Newcastle United re-opened talks over a move for Monaco left-back Antonio Barreca after a deal for Jordan Lukaku fell through, according to the Chronicle.
The regional newspaper reports that after the Lazio defender failed to pass his medical with the Magpies, the club swiftly moved to re-enter discussions with the Ligue 1 club in an attempt to sign their 23-year-old full-back.
The Daily Mail previously reported that United had halted a move for Barreca after entering negotiations over a move for Lukaku, but the club have now performed a U-turn in a bid to bring a left-back to Tyneside before the window shuts.
OPINION
This really looks like a desperate attempt to bring in a left-back before the transfer deadline – in other words, Barreca looks like he is just a last resort for Newcastle, which is hardly flattering. He was out of the picture when they opened talks over a move for Lukaku, and now Newcastle suddenly want to know him again. The fact he is their second choice indicates that they deemed Lukaku of higher quality, so who knows whether Barreca will want to move to a club where he is not that highly regarded? It would not be a surprise if United are unable to negotiate a move for the Italian defender, as they have proved unsuccessful in their previous attempts to sign a left-back. Barreca is not at the high standard required for the Premier League, but as they say, desperate times call for desperate measures. They need a left-back, and time is slowly running out.