Newcastle Deadline Day News: Magpies Fall Behind in Mariappa Chase

Newcastle United appear to have failed in their attempts to bring in defensive cover to St James' Park in the January transfer window, after Watford gave Wigan permission to speak with versatile defender Adrian Mariappa.

Alan Pardew admitted in his pre-Blackburn press conference that he had submitted a final offer for Mariappa earlier on Tuesday but did not reveal if it had been accepted.

However, Premier League rivals Wigan have had a bid in the region of £2.5m accepted by Watford and appear to be the frontrunners for the 25-year-old's signature.

Pardew is quoted in the Daily Mail: "We have made our last bid now and it's a final bid so if he doesn't come today then he probably won't come to this football club because in the summer we will probably look elsewhere."

Meanwhile, highly-rated Manchester United youngster Ravel Morrison is on the verge of completing a move to Championship side West Ham.

United rejected an approach by Newcastle earlier this month and the midfielder is likely to finalise a move to London before Tuesday's 11pm transfer deadline.

"The deal is not quite done yet but we are hopeful it will be completed," West Ham manager Sam Allardyce told the London Evening Standard.

"Ravel is a talented lad and if he really wants to be a player then we will help him as much as we can along the way.

"Perhaps a change of environment will be beneficial to him and help him make that step up to first team football quicker than perhaps would have been the case at Manchester United. There is no doubt he has exceptional talent."