Newcastle United have contacted La Liga outfit Eibar over a potential summer deal for defender Florian Lejeune, according to the Northern Echo.
The newspaper claim that Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez is keen to bolster his defensive ranks ahead of their return to the Premier League, and has identified Lejeune as a top target.
Lejeune, 26, made 37 appearances in all competitions for the Spanish club last term, having arrived in a £1.2million deal from Manchester City last summer.
Premier League rivals Tottenham and Arsenal have also been closely monitoring Lejeune, but Newcastle hold the advantage given they have already made contact with the player’s current employers.
However, Newcastle are said to be prepared to open their door to the French defender door for a swift return to the Premier League, with the Magpies having already set their summer transfer plans in motion.
The centre-back still has three years remaining on his current deal, but the Northern Echo report he has a release clause in his contract that would allow him to move for just £8.7million.
That could well prove favourable in the eyes of Benitez, with another of his reported defensive targets, Man City’s Eliaquim Mangala, likely to command a much larger fee.
The Sun report that Pep Guardiola is willing to listen to offers for Mangala this summer, but that the defender could cost Newcastle as much as £18million.
To accommodate the potential arrival of either Lejeune or Mangala, Newcastle are likely to part ways with current centre-back Grant Hanley, who is wanted by Championship duo Derby County and Aston Villa.