Newcastle are the latest club linked to signing wantaway Real Madrid star Marco Asensio as they look to upgrade the team under its new Saudi Arabia-backed ownership.
Asensio is a top prospect for this summer's transfer window as he has made clear his desire to leave Los Blancos.
Liverpool, Arsenal and AC Milan have all been credited with an interest in the 26-year-old amid his fall down the pecking order at the Bernabeu, and now Newcastle have joined the race to sign him, according to AS.
Under their new ownership, Newcastle have the financial might to compete with the transfer budgets of Europe's top clubs and they reportedly see Asensio as a star player to build their new project on.
His contract runs out in a year's time, meaning Florentino Perez is keen to cash in now, in a bid to avoid letting him leave for free on June 30, 2023.
Tuttomercatoweb report that Los Blancos have slapped a price tag of €25-30m on his head - a figure which translates as £21.6m-£25.8m - and if that is matched, they would let him leave for pastures new.
Newcastle's new regime have already burst open the coffers for manager Eddie Howe, spending £90million in the January transfer window to sign Bruno Guimaraes (£40m), Chris Wood (£25m), Dan Burn (£13m) and Kieran Trippier (£12m).
Goalkeeper Nick Pope and defenders Sven Botman and Matt Targett have joined this summer, with the Tyneside revolution well under way.
But other than the arrival of Guimaraes, who has excelled in bringing skill and excitement to Newcastle, Howe and the owners have made sensible decisions rather than statement signings.
A move for Asensio, who is a three-time LaLiga and Champions League winner with Real Madrid, would put rivals on notice that the Magpies are ready to mix it with the elite clubs.
It has also been reported that Asensio is willing to take a pay cut to join a 'convincing project', which is likely to include more playing time for himself.
With Newcastle also linked to the likes of Bayer Leverkusen's Moussa Diaby, Chelsea striker Armando Broja and Everton's Anthony Gordon, it is clear Howe has big ambitions that could appeal to Asensio.