Newcastle will hold fresh talks today over a move for Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma.
Aston Villa still hold interest in Bissouma but are exploring other options, so the door is open for Newcastle to make an approach for a player they had earmarked at the beginning of the window.
Brighton want £50million for the Mali international, 25, who has 18 months left on his contract.
The Seagulls want £50 million for the midfielder, who is currently at the AFCON with Mali
That valuation, plus Bissouma’s wage demands, have prompted Villa to assess alternatives such as Marseille’s Boubacar Kamara and Rodrigo Bentancur of Juventus.