NEWCASTLE boss Kevin Keegan has begun laying the foundations for a s12million summer bid for Celtic golden boy Aiden McGeady.

Record Sport can reveal Keegan had to abort a plan to run the rule over the player in person at Wednesday night's Champions League clash with Barcelona. He instead sent right hand man Terry McDermott to Glasgow, along with a senior director from St James Park.

McDermott returned south to tell Keegan it will take "funny money" to tempt Celtic into selling the fabulously-gifted 21-year-old. Now Keegan will spend more time monitoring the player and deciding whether or not to weigh in with a massive cash offer at the end of the season.

Keegan has been promised a s50m war chest to rebuild his firstteam squad when the transfer market reopens for business and is keen to draw up a list of priority targets as early as possible.

But McDermott did not see enough of McGeady's skills against Barca to be convinced the Republic of Ireland international is worth such a huge chunk of Keegan's budget.

Newcastle believe it will require a bid of at least s12m to bring Celtic to the table but McGeady was not given the chance to justify that massive fee on a night when Celtic were dominated and defeated by the classy Catalan outfit.

Keegan, though, remains a big admirer and will track the winger's form over the coming weeks as he prepares to reconstruct an ailing side flirting with a top-flight relegation battle.

Quality little player

But not worth that amount of money - if Celtic recieved a bit of around 4m then they would sell him instantly

No chance! If Newcastle are preparing a bid of in the region of £12m they're closer to the price Celtic will sell at, another £500k and maybe a player too might be enough, but £4m? Forget it!