It’s been a quiet and slightly frustrating first half of June for Newcastle United, but we’ll be hoping to see things pick up over the next fortnight.

Unlike last summer, when we were targeted due to our PSR issues, the shoe may be on the other foot this June, with Newcastle in a position to capitalise on those in trouble.

One club that’s widely expected to sell due to their vulnerable position is Aston Villa, especially as they just missed out on Champions League football following their final day defeat at Man Utd.

Newcastle could benefit from that in more ways than one, as a North East journalist hints below…

Villa midfielder ‘one to watch’

A move to Newcastle United for Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey is ‘one to watch’ over the coming weeks, reports Mark Douglas.

In his latest piece for the iPaper, he states that we hold long-term interest in the 24-year-old and is one to keep an eye on over the final weeks of June.

Aston Villa are seen by many as a club desperately needing to sell in order to avoid a points deduction stemming from a PSR violation.

And whilst the likes of Emi Martinez and Leon Bailey are tipped to leave Villa Park this summer, Jacob Ramsey could make the most sense from a financial point of view – similar to how we were forced to sell homegrown player Elliot Anderson last summer.

Sky Sports linked us with a move for the former England Under-21 international, claiming Villa would listen to offers around the £30m mark.

Willock out, Ramsey in?

So, with Howe keen to keep some of his current squad at the club such as Joe Willock, whilst also a keen admirer in Ramsey, who would be the best option for the club moving forward?

Regarded for his versatility, Ramsey can deputise both in midfield and on the left – positions we’re not necessarily lacking depth in, but his youth and English nationality are worthwhile in terms of meeting squad criteria quotas.

Looking at the stats, the 24-year-old Ramsey did manage to record four goals and seven assists in all competitions last season. That’s one more goal and five more assists than what Willock managed in the season just gone, albeit in close to 800 more minutes of game time.

From a tactical point of view, poaching a key squad player from one of our European rivals makes perfect sense. But the club may be hesitant to commit big funds in midfield when there’s sections of our squad which are in much more need of a refresh.

Buying Ramsey may also hinge on selling Willock to begin with, where only Crystal Palace and Fulham have been touted as potential but not yet serious buyers.