Newcastle to Sign Usa Defender Oguchi Onyewu

United States international defender Oguchi Onyewu is undergoing a medical with Newcastle with a view to a loan move from the Belgian side Standard Liege.

Onyewu, 24, has been attracting interest from clubs across Europe, reportedly including Chelsea. The former Metz centre-half appeared in all three of the USA's matches at the World Cup in Germany last summer which boosted his profile and he is set to sign on loan until the end of the season.

Born in Washington DC to Nigerian parents, Onyewu played college football for two years before joining French side Metz in 2002. He made little impact with the Lorraine club and was loaned to Belgians La Louviere in 2003 and Standard Liege a year later. His move to Liege was made permanent soon afterwards and he has since forged a strong reputation for his strength and aerial ability, being voted the Jupiler League's foreign player of the year in 2005.

Manager Glenn Roeder is also hoping to tie up a deal for St Etienne forward Frederic Piquionne. "We want to take Onyewu and Piquionne on loan and we are now waiting for permission for their clubs to do so," he told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.

Wigan, meanwhile, are poised to sign flying Nigerian striker Julius Aghahowa from Shakhtar Donestsk.

Aghahowa shot to stardom in his homeland in 2000, when, aged 18, he scored three goals to help Nigeria reach the final of the African Cup of Nations, which they eventually lost on penalties to Cameroon. His performances in that tournament earned him a move to top Tunisian club Espérance, where he remained for only a few months before completing a multi-million pound switch to Shakhtar.

He has scored 32 goals in 85 appearances for the Ukrainian champions, but is now set to fulfil a long-standing ambition to play in England. "Aghahowa has been with us for almost seven years and it's time for him to move elsewhere," said Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu. "He wants to play in England and we decided to grant him his wish. He is in London right now to finalise his deal with Wigan."

The Latics, though, face a work permit hearing in Sheffield tomorrow regarding Aghahowa. "I hope we'll get the decision, but it's not set in stone," said manager Paul Jewell. "Everything else has been agreed - the fee with Shakhtar Donetsk, the player's terms - so now it's down to getting the work permit. I'm quite excited about him coming here. If we sign him he'll give us more competition up front. Even though his contract runs out in October, we've still had to pay quite a hefty price for him now."

Jewell has also been chasing Fulham's Pape Bouba Diop, but despite ongoing talks, is yet to conclude a deal. "We spoke to him on Thursday, and he was quite impressed," added Jewell. "But these things do take time. We had meetings again in London yesterday - and while it is time-consuming and energy-sapping, it's what you have to do."

One man who has finalised a deal is Stern John, 30, who has moved from Coventry to Sunderland on a two-and-a-half-year deal. "We agreed a deal over the weekend for Stern John," said Black Cats manager Roy Keane. "We are looking for somebody with a physical presence up front."

John underwent a medical on Wearside this morning and becomes Keane's sixth January recruit. He joins countrymen Carlos Edwards and Dwight Yorke at the Stadium of Light.