Newcastle will push for Manchester United starlet Axel Tuanzebe if Harry Maguire moves to Old Trafford, reports The Daily Mail.
Tuanzebe has featured prominently for United during pre-season after a successful loan spell at Aston Villa last season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hailed Tuanzebe as the future of United but game time will be limited for the 21-year-old next season.
United currently have six centre-backs and are locked in talks with Leicester to sign Harry Maguire before next week’s deadline.
Maguire’s arrival would push Tuanzebe further down the pecking order and Newcastle manager Steve Bruce is ready to pounce on his services.
Villa were keen on re-signing Tuanzebe at the start of the summer but the newly promoted Premier League side have already strengthened sufficiently at the back.
That leaves Newcastle with a clear shot at signing Tuanzebe if he becomes available for loan and it was Bruce that brought the youngster to Villa last summer.
Tuanzebe made 28 league appearances for Villa last season and garnered a modest WhoScored rating of 6.75 in that time.