Roy Keane is battling with Sam Allardyce in the race to sign contract rebel Wes Brown.
The Manchester United defender - who has been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur - is top of the January transfer wishlist at Newcastle United and Sunderland.
The £5million-rated England defender, 28, is out of contract next summer and has rejected a new deal at Old Trafford.
Black Cats boss Roy Keane wants to persuade his former United team-mate to join his Stadium of Light revolution next month, according to the News Of The World.
But Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce hopes the chance to play again with ex-United colleagues Nicky Butt and Alan Smith will sway Brown.