Jean Alain Boumsong is relishing lining up again with Aussie international Craig Moore at the heart of the Newcastle United defence.
The Chronicle revealed on Saturday night that Graeme Souness wants to bring in the 29-year-old former Rangers central defender, who has been released by Borussia Monchengladbach.
Talks are ongoing with Moore and there is a fair chance that he will arrive at St James' Park in the next week.
But United have been up front with Moore (pictured), explaining to him that his arrival would not be allowed to get in the way of young Steven Taylor's progress in the first team this season in his preferred position of central defender and that he would only be coming as cover.
Boumsong and Moore played together at the heart of the Rangers defence at the start of last season before the Aussie moved to Germany.
Boumsong told me today: "Craig Moore is a good player and I would love to see him follow me to St James' Park.
"He is a full international who has captained his country and, not only that, he is a great guy.
"Obviously we played alongside each other at Rangers and I would welcome him here.
"I would be pleased to line up with him again, but I will also be pleased when Titus Bramble is fit again because I enjoying playing alongside him as well."
After being linked with the likes of Sol Campbell, Matthew Upson and Sami Hyypia, Souness has gone for a player who would cost nothing and this suggests that the big money is needed to strengthen the United team elsewhere.
United were again linked with Hyypia yesterday, some reports saying that they had offered Liverpool cash and a player for the Finnish central defender.
But Freddy Shepherd insisted today: "We have not talked to Liverpool about Hyypia and we certainly have not offered any of our players for him."
What Newcastle have offered is Fenerbahce the chance to get their money back on their French international Nicolas Anelka.
Souness and Shepherd got Terry McDermott to find out from his big pal Kevin Keegan just how much Fenerbahce paid Manchester City for Anelka in the January transfer window.
Keegan revealed that this was £4.5m and that's what United have offered, as they feel that to give Fenerbahce the chance to get their money back on a player who has not been a success in Turkey is fair enough.
But Fenerbahce want 20 million Euros, which is £13.9m, and obviously the two parties are miles apart in their valuation of Anelka.
