Newcastle United are preparing to table an opening bid for Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala, according to the Mail.
The newspaper reports that the newly-promoted Premier League side are set to lodge an initial offer of around £12million for the City centre-back, 26.
The Mail report that Newcastle face competition from Spanish club Valencia for Mangala, who is deemed surplus to requirements at City.
Mangala has spent this season on loan at Valencia and has been a mainstay of the team who finished the La Liga campaign in 12th position.
He was loaned out after struggling to adapt to life in the Premier League following his £42million arrival from Porto in the summer of 2014.
It has been speculated that City are keen to find a permanent buyer for Mangala this summer.
Newcastle are in the market for defensive reinforcements despite storming to the Championship title built on the centre-back pairing of Jamaal Lascelles and Ciaran Clark.
Manager Rafael Benitez is reportedly looking to sign at least one centre-back and Mangala could present an intriguing option, given his pedigree and the fact he he has not played for City since the 1-1 draw with Swansea on May 15 last year.
Benitez is keen to acquire Mangala for only a fraction of his 2014 fee, and wants owner Mike Ashley to hand him the necessary funds to front a move.