[kennethlindheim]

The search for a new number nine at St James' Park is a serious business and the latest name in the frame for a move to Newcastle United is Dean Ashton.

The 22-year-old is reportedly wanted by manager Glenn Roeder, with an offer of James Milner (rated at £3m) plus a hefty cash sum set to be made.

Ashton certainly fits Roeder's bill of a young, hungry player as the Newcastle manager tries to move the club away from its reputation for further feathering the nest of millionaire 'fat cats' but West Ham are already guaranteed to be playing European football next season and would need a huge offer to part company with a player who cost them over £7m in January and has yet to play 20 games at Upton Park.

Alan Pardew stressed last week that the signing of Carlton Cole did not mean an exit was on the cards for any of his strikers but even if it did, Bobby Zamora would surely be the odd man out.