Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce is in talks for Marseille defender Habib Beye.

The Evening Chronicle says Allardyce is confident of convincing the Paris-born player to swap France for Tyneside as hopes of an audacious swoop for Manchester United's Gabriel Heinze fade.

Senegal international right-back Beye played against United in the 2004 UEFA Cup semi-final.

Newcastle have already added versatile Cameroon international Geremi to their squad as well as Czech centre-back David Rozehnal, but bolstering the Magpies' fragile defence remains Allardyce's primary goal.