Luque to bring goals to Newcastle

Premiership challenge
The left-sided attacker will undergo medical tests in England in advance of signing a five-year contract, subject to international clearance. "I am delighted a deal has been done," said the 27-year-old. "The Premiership is an excellent league. To line up alongside Alan Shearer would be huge for me."

Better deal
Numerous Primera División sides had shown an interest in Luque, including Club Atlético de Madrid, Real Madrid CF, Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona, but after having earlier offers rejected, Newcastle came up with the winning bid. "The financial conditions are very different to those that had originally been proposed," said Deportivo president Augusto César Lendoiro.

Mallorca roots
Luque rose through the youth ranks at RCD Mallorca where he eventually formed a deadly strike partnership with Samuel Eto'o. He was transferred to Deportivo for €10m in the summer of 2002 and has gone on to win 15 caps for Spain as well as finishing as the Galician team's leading scorer last term with eleven league goals.

Owen interest
The completion of the Luque deal should mark the end of Newcastle's interest in the unsettled Madrid forward Michael Owen. Newcastle had agreed what would have been a club-record fee of up to €25m for the English international, but Owen favours a return to Liverpool FC.