Source: Telegraph
Newcastle sign Peter Lovenkrands
The 28-year-old Denmark international, who left German club Schalke earlier this month after his contract was terminated by mutual consent, has been snapped up after a successful two-week trial on Tyneside. [LNB]Lovenkrands, who will wear the No 24 shirt, could make his debut in Wednesday night's Premier League game at Manchester City.[LNB]The winger said: "I'm delighted to sign a deal until the end of the season. I now just can't wait for my debut at Man City next week." [LNB]Lovenkrands' capture comes a day after latest financial figures put the club's attempts to strengthen the squad available to manager Joe Kinnear into perspective. [LNB]They revealed owner Mike Ashley has already ploughed £110 million into Newcastle, on top of the £134.4m he handed over to buy it, and wages currently account for more than 70 per cent of turnover, well in excess of the 50 per cent recommended. [LNB]However, Ashley has promised to back Kinnear's January transfer plans, and the 62-year-old revealed last week that a £5m bid for Rennes midfielder Stephane Mbia and a £4m offer for another unnamed player had been tabled. [LNB]But the club may have to be a little more inventive in their pursuit of other targets, with short-term and loan deals more likely, and they will hope Lovenkrands' arrival is the first of several. [LNB]Kinnear's squad is currently ravaged by injuries, although the likes of Joey Barton, Alan Smith, Mark Viduka and Obafemi Martins could soon return to help the fight for top-flight survival with only two points currently separating them from the drop zone. [LNB][LNB]
