Newcastle are ready to move for Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti.
The Sun says Umtiti has emerged as a £17million target for relegation-haunted Newcastle.
The 28-year-old defender has fallen out of favour with successive managers at the cash-strapped Spanish giants.
And they are desperate to offload Umtiti's £220,000-a-week wages.
But following the takeover by a Saudi-backed consortium the Toon may be one of the few clubs willing to splash out on the France international centre-back.
Eddie Howe badly needs experienced reinforcements in the January transfer window as he seeks to drag Newcastle away from the drop-zone.
And shoring up a leaky defence is a priority with the Magpies having conceded more than any other side in the division.
Need a VPN? Or seeking to switch? Then support Tribal Football by clicking here to sign up with our official partners NordVPN. Not only will you receive the best VPN experience, but also great discounts by signing up via Tribal Football. Thanks for your support!