Big Sam eyes Serb after clinching £4.2m Enrique

Sam Allardyce could sign his fourth player in five days after Sevilla's Ivica Dragutinovic said he wants to move to Newcastle. Allardyce signed Spanish centrehalf Jose Enrique for £4.2million yesterday - he followed Alan Smith and Cacapa into St James' Park - and now wants £2.5m Serb Dragutinovic.

"It really is very complicated to reject the chance to join Newcastle," said Dragutinovic, 31. "I have always wanted to play in England."

Allardyce could do with the funds Kieron Dyer's transfer would have brought in but West Ham and Newcastle are still at loggerheads.

Shola Ameobi, meanwhile, has vowed to become Allardyce's first-choice forward this season despite competition from Smith, Mark Viduka, Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins. Ameobi, 25, said: "My aim is to get into the first-team starting line-up and become the gaffer's first-choice striker."