RAFA EYES MOVE FOR £6M PIRES

BRAZILIAN midfielder Gabriel Pires is on Rafa Benitez’s radar – but the Newcastle chief faces a battle to land the 23-year-old.

The former Juventus trainee (above) was loaned out to Leganes in La Liga before he had played a single game for the Turin giants and was signed permanently by the Madrid side last summer.

Benitez has been kept up to speed with the player’s progress by contacts back in Spain, and he also has the backing of chief scout Graham Carr.

Pires has a £6million release clause in his contract and falls into the age range preferred by Toon owner Mike Ashley.

However, there is also interest from West Ham and Everton. Zenit St Petersburg are also keen but a switch to Russia would not be the player’s first choice.