Fri 18th May 2007

Newcastle are ready to renew their interest in out-of-contract Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka.

It is understood the Magpies, who failed in a bid to take the 31-year-old to St James' Park in January after courting him last summer, are preparing to offer him another option as his deal at the Riverside Stadium draws to a close.

The Australia international, in his native country ahead of their Asian Cup campaign, admitted last weekend that he is agonising over his future.

Two goals in the 3-1 final day victory over Fulham took his tally for the season to 19 and gave the Teessiders and their fans even greater cause to hope he will accept the extension which has been on the table for some time.

Chairman Steve Gibson even called him personally on Monday to urge him to stay.

However, Viduka, who joined Boro in a £4.5million move from Leeds in July 2004, is keeping his options open with Newcastle, Manchester United, Portsmouth, West Ham and Genoa among the clubs linked with him in recent weeks.