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Newcastle are ready to clinch the signing of French striker Bafetimbi Gomis with a £4million-a-year contract.

The big target man has been in Toon’s sights for years but on Sunday night they were closing in on a swoop ahead of newly-promoted Queens Park Rangers.

Gomis has been offered stunning terms at the end of his stay with Lyon. And he is swaying towards moving to Tyneside.

Owner Mike Ashley is keen as Gomis is a free agent after previous big-money bids for him failed last summer.

QPR chief Harry Redknapp thought he had signed the French star with a £70,000-a-week tempter, but Newcastle are going higher.

(Image: Ben Hoskins)

Manager Alan Pardew needs good news, and the addition of a big name for his squad will also lift the fans.

Newcastle have agreed a £500,000 deal - plus bonuses - with Rotherham to sell them Haris Vuckic and James Tavernier.

Midfielder Vuckic is happy with the Millers switch, if terms can be agreed with Steve Evans’s club. But the Championship new boys face a blow as right back Tavernier would prefer to go to Wigan instead.

The Latics have offered Tavernier much better terms than Rotherham, where both he and Vuckic starred on loan.