It hasn’t taken Newcastle United’s new owner, Mike Ashley, long to get the hang of things. Make an impact, go for a couple of big names, let the fans know you mean business.

According to tribalfootball.com, Newcastle have set their sights on a couple of really big (but not very long) names – Deco at Barcelona and Raul at Real Madrid, both of whom are ready for the last hoorah. And what better place than the Premiership?

It’s going to cost young Mr Ashley a fair old packet. Although there’s no mention of a fee for either player, their combined wages will be enough to give the new owner noughts before the eyes. And he hasn’t really checked their shelf life. But it’s a start, and Newcastle could certainly do with a quality check.

Seems that Juan Antonio Reyes (yes, the same Arsenal loan star and scorer of the two late goals that secured the La Liga title for Real Madrid), is being offered a permanent move to the Bernabeu (various cources).

One player Newcastle and Spurs won’t be getting is Ludovic Giuly. The 30-year-old Barcelona winger has decided to stay at the Nou Camp and fight for his place.

Now what about the latest twist to the Carlos Tevez for Manchester United saga. According to the News of The World (again), Senor Tevez has been turfed out of his Canary Wharf apartment by the Hammers to allow their new French signing, Fabien Faubert, to move in.

They had the good sense to wait until Tevez was in Venezuela fighting Argentina’s corner in the Copa America before clearing out the apartment. Don’t want another Argie war, do we! Seems all very petty, especially as the Hammers now seem resigned to losing him to the champs. Can’t imagine what he’ll have to say when he gets back to find his belongings on the pavement.

He has had the good sense to check United out with old boy Juan Veron (who has been recalled to the Argentina squad after three years) - and the Ming (remember Flash Gordon?) lookalike has given him the green light.

West Ham also seem reluctant to announce that they’ve actually signed someone (Sportinglife.com). According to Liverpool, Craig Bellamy has passed his medical and put his name to a £7m move. According to West Ham it’s not a done deal as the player has a few “personal matters” to settle with his club. That, presumably, is the size of his leaving present.

And, whisper it ever so quietly, the new season has started! A few leg-stretching, muscle-testing friendlies got under way this weekend, and there was one really interesting game in which Liverpool beat Wrexham 3-2. Interesting because a certain Austrian teenager by the name of Besion Idrizaj scored all three Liverpool goals in the space of 19 minutes.

Rafa Benitez fielded two separate teams in each half, most Youth and Reserve team regulars with a sprinkling of half-a-dozen first-teamers. Good start, Reds –keep it up.

Latest comings, goings and maybes:

Derby County have signed defender Andy Todd from Blackburn.

Rangers have signed ex-West Ham and Man United goalkeeper Roy Carroll.

Ipswich are in for Blackburn striker Francis Jeffers.

Aston Villa are giving a trial to Steve Mandanda, French Under-21 keeper at Le Havre.