According to some slightly dubious reports emerging from Italy, Newcastle are interested in AC Milan duo Franck Kessie and Hakan Calhanoglu.
Starting with Kessie, SempreMilan report that ourselves and Arsenal are both keen to sign the Ivory Coast international midfielder.
The highly-rated 23-year-old has been linked with a loan move to the Premier League this month – with Wolves and West Ham credited with interest – but the arrival of Nabil Bentaleb surely means this one is a non starter?
Then to Hakan Calhanoglu. Our interest in the Turkish international was reported earlier this month, with Tuttosport claiming we watched him in AC Milan’s recent 0-0 draw with Sampdoria.
A few weeks on and Calciomercato reporter Louis Girardi has claimed last night that we’ve now submitted an offer to sign the attacking midfielder.
Calhanoglu could be a target given we’re clearly in the market for more attacking flair, but Kessie seems highly unlikely after Bentaleb’s arrival – even if he is the sort of box-to-box midfielder we’ve lacked this season.
