Alvaro: Attracting English interest

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Newcastle United are attempting to hijack Birmingham's move for Brazilian defender Alvaro.

Kevin Keegan is keen to tighten up the Magpies back line and has earmarked the Levante centre-half as the man for the job.

Birmingham were believed to be already closely tracking the player, but with Newcastle now rumoured to have made a £3million bid it looks as though the Blues may be forced to miss out.

Perfect option

"It's incredible - on the same day two English clubs are fighting over me," Alvaro is quoted as saying in The Mirror

"Levante have the final say but going to Newcastle is perfect.

"To play in the Premier League will be sensational."

The defender has played in Spain since leaving his homeland in 2000 to join Las Palmas. He spent a successful three-year spell at Real Zaragoza between 2003 and 2006, helping the club to Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup triumphs and moved to Levante after they gained promotion to the Primera Division at the end of the 2005/06 season.