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Newcastle United are eyeing Birmingham City’s England international goalkeeper Jack Butland.

The Chronicle has been informed by reliable sources in the second city that the Magpies are prepared to offer £4m for the teenager and they have touched base with the St Andrew’s club.

Although they face competition to land the talented goalkeeper’s signature.

Lee Clark’s Blues have little choice but to sell the 19-year-old this January with the cash-strapped Championship club knowing they must move on their prized assets in order to survive. Butland has also attracted interest from Arsenal, Fulham and Liverpool but the Cottagers are thought to be out of the running after failing to come up with the funds to prise him away from Birmingham, and the Gunners and Reds have other priorities.

Newcastle were still reeling from Queens Park Rangers’ hijacking of their bid for Loic Remy from Marseille.

But they will not be knocked off their stride when it comes to long-term planning.

Thirty-seven year-old Steve Harper is out of contract at the end of the season. United are looking to the future and while nothing has been firmed up about the Easington shot-stopper's future, Newcastle have been looking for younger keepers.

Butland’s presence would push Tim Krul all the way in the battle for number 1 and United want three keepers to keep competition healthy.

At 6ft 5in, Butland is arguably England’s brightest prospect when it comes to young goalies.

He guarded the posts for Great Britain in the Olympics and also made the England squad for Euro 2012 after John Ruddy withdrew with a broken finger.

Butland debuted for his country in Berne in England’s 2-1 win over Italy.

Butland ticks all United’s boxes in terms of his age and potential resale value and would also offer first-class back-up for Krul.

The Bristolian teenager has made 27 league appearances for Birmingham after also spending time on loan at Cheltenham earlier in his career.

Blues boss and former Newcastle favourite Clark has indicated in the past that Butland would be making a mistake to go to a club where he wouldn’t play regularly.

However, whoever he signs for would have the option to loan him back out to Birmingham – a scenario that may suit Newcastle with Harper and Rob Elliot on their books.

Clark said only last week: “It doesn’t matter what club he goes to – even if he goes to the biggest club in the world, Manchester United, and he’s their number two – I don’t think it’s going to benefit his career at all.

“He has done brilliantly for me – the issue is that he keeps playing.

“It’s all right saying that he is for sale etc, but he has to go to a club where he is going to play.

“He is good enough to go to the Premier League and be a number one, without a shadow of a doubt. But he has to make sure that’s what happens, if it comes to that.

“I think it would be a massive backwards step if he goes to a Premier League club and he is the number two.

“It doesn’t matter who he’s behind, the size of the club, he should not give up what he’s got here lightly and I’m glad he feels that way.”

Current England No 1 and Man City star Joe Hart is in no doubt that Butland could be the next big thing.

He said: “He’s a kid who I think a lot of and he’s doing well.

“I’m a big fan of him as a keeper.

“He’s a good lad as well, he is making really good strides and he will play for England again.”