Wolves eye move for Newcastle pair

Wolves are this weekend weighing up a loan raid on Newcastle to freshen up their attack before the transfer deadline shuts.

Leon Best and Peter Lovenkrands are being eyed by Molineux top brass after being made available by boss Alan Pardew.

Senior sources have confirmed Wolves are pondering a move for one of the two, although direct contact at executive level is still to be made between the clubs.

Newcastle are preparing to welcome back new signing Papiss Demba Cisse and Demba Ba from Senegal duty in the African Cup of Nations on Tuesday, in time for them both to start at Blackburn on Wednesday.

And their eagerly-awaited return will push Best and Lovenkrands closer to the exit door, with Hatem Ben Arfa and vice-captain Shola Ameobi also above them in the pecking order.

That has alerted Wolves, whose efforts to strengthen their attack have stalled just months after they turned down Ba because his wages were too expensive when he left West Ham.

Boss Mick McCarthy is understood to have funds at his disposal, but with his main targets unavailable, loans have become the more likely option.

Tentative loan enquiries for Manchester United's Mame Biram Diouf and Bolton veteran Kevin Davies never went further and Best and Lovenkrands are two of several alternatives being considered.

Nottingham-born Best, 25, has been a regular in 2011-12, making 17 Premier League appearances, including 15 starts, scoring four goals.

An Ireland international, he is well known to Wolves' scouts and has caught the eye with his size and workrate.

Best has scored 10 goals in 29 league starts since a £1m move from Coventry in January 2010.

Wiry ex-Rangers and Schalke man Lovenkrands, 31, made the last of six Premier League appearances this term on December 3.

The experienced Dane, who scored in the Magpies' 4-1 win over Wolves last April, is keen for a fresh start with his contract up in June.