[kennethlindheim]

Sam Allardyce has confirmed his interest in Chelsea utility man Geremi.

Newcastle were linked with a move for the Cameroonian earlier this week and Allardyce is now looking to close in on a deal as soon as possible.

Geremi has struggled to establish himself in Chelsea's starting XI in recent seasons but has made some useful contributions and Allardyce expects to have a battle on his hands.

He told Sky Sports News: "Geremi is something we would like to pursue, but many other clubs in the Premier League will be doing exactly the same thing as Newcastle.

"Hopefully we can persuade him - if we get the opportunity - to join this football club and not the others who will be chasing him as well as us.

"It is a long way from done, but there is an interest there and hopefully we can progress it over the next few days."

Meanwhile, Newcastle have agreed a multi-million sponsorship deal with Carling.

The four-year agreement is one of the biggest of its type in British sport.

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