NEWCASTLE United boss Bobby Robson could be planning a summer raid for Saints defender Wayne Bridge.

Speculation has been mounting in the north east that Robson could table a £7m-plus bid for the England left-back.

The Geordies finished third in the Premiership last season but shipped 48 league goals - two more than Saints, who finished 17 points behind Newcastle, conceded. Reports in Newcastle say Robson is also interested in Spurs right-back Stephen Carr while England defender Gareth Southgate has also been linked with a move to St James' Park.

Robson has just signed midfielder Lee Bowyer but has not ruled out further strengthening his young squad.

"Next year, I'm sure that some of our younger players will be even better players and that might be sufficient," he said.

"However, the chairman and I have been very busy with the Lee Bowyer situation and we haven't really had much time to contemplate what other changes and what other decisions we have to make.

"We will do soon. I hope to meet him this week and further the discussions to see whether there's something else that we can do bearing in mind, incidentally, that we already have a very good squad.

"Those players got us into third position and we think those players can do the same and maybe even better."

A United source told the Newcastle Journal newspaper: "Both Wayne Bridge and Stephen Carr have attracted our interest and that is likely to be firmed up in the next few weeks.

"It remains to be seen if their clubs want to sell and, if they do, if it is at the right price.

"But both players fit the profile of what we want to bring to the club to strengthen the squad."

Bridge, 22, has made 140 Premiership starts for Saints after signing for the club as a trainee in August 1997.

He made his league debut for the club 12 months later against Liverpool and has since gone on to become one of the most consistent players in the Premiership.

Bridge could win his 12th England cap in the friendly against Serbia and Montenegro at Leicester City on June 3.

Along with clubmate James Beattie, he linked up with the England squad in La Manga at the weekend.

Saints chairman Rupert Lowe has repeatedly insisted that the club is under no financial pressure to sell any of their players this summer.

But the St Mary's chief has always said there would be no point holding onto any player who wants to leave.

Bridge, right, told the Daily Echo earlier this month: "I love the club, I have been a fan all my life. All my family and most of my friends support the club."

From that, it would appear it would take a fantastic offer from Newcastle or any other interested club to tempt Bridge away from the south coast.

So where do Saints need to strengthen? Read Jeremy Wilson's St Mary's analysis on Pages 4 & 5 Sport in today's Daily Echo