Newcastle face competition from Premier League rivals Everton as they attempt to capture Netherlands international Georginio Wijnaldum.
Newcastle have spent several weeks engaged in discussions with PSV Eindhoven over the highly rated midfielder with managing director Lee Charnley reported to have travelled to the Netherlands on Tuesday in yet another attempt to secure a deal.
However, Press Association Sport reports the Magpies have so far been unable to agree terms with the club or the player, and now Everton have formalised their interest in him.
Toffees midfielder James McCarthy has been linked with a big-money move to Tottenham this summer and Wijnaldum would represent a worthy replacement should that deal materialise.
That would come as a setback to Newcastle, who identified the player as one of their major targets at a transfer summit in the immediate aftermath of Steve McClaren's appointment last month.