Luis Boa Morte

GRAEME SOUNESS is confident Luis Boa Morte will quit Fulham to become a Newcastle player.

But the decision could rest in the hands of Toon chairman Freddy Shepherd.

The Cottagers yesterday rejected a £3.5million Geordie bid for their Portuguese frontman.

And it seems likely the Magpies will now have to increase their offer to at least £5m if they are to land a third major signing of the summer.

Fulham boss Chris Coleman told the Toon to put up or shut up last week and insisted he wanted bids “north of £5m”.

Shepherd will now have to decide whether the player is worth that kind of investment.

At the same time, however, it is understood 19-cap Boa Morte, 27, has a clause in his Fulham contract that would allow him to insist on a move if he wants one — and that clause could be invoked.

There is no doubting Newcastle want the player in their line-up when their Premiership campaign begins against Arsenal at Highbury next month.

Former Gunners star Boa Morte had possibly his best ever season in England last term and would provide much-needed pace and firepower down the left flank.

Toon boss Souness said: “People are frightened by players with pace like him but the player has also got to be able to play.

“If pace was all we were looking for then we’d go out and look at Olympic sprinters.

“Boa Morte is a top left-sided player — in fact, he is what a top modern player in that position is all about. I like him very much, of course.”

Boa Morte continues to make no secret of the fact he fancies a move to St James’ Park, even though he signed a new five-year contract with Fulham during the January transfer window.

It remains to be seen whether a frustrated Coleman — who has already lost Dutch keeper Edwin Van der Sar to Manchester United and Andy Cole to Manchester City — takes Boa Morte on the club’s pre-season tour to America.

The Cottagers jet out early tomorrow morning.