Inter Milan full-back Davide Santon has opened talks with Newcastle, according to his agent.
Sources on Tyneside have confirmed that the 20-year-old, who is also wanted by Roma, is among manager Alan Pardew's targets as he looks for a replacement for Jose Enrique, and agent Claudio Vigorelli has claimed negotiations are under way.
He told Corriere dello Sport: "At this time, there is no possibility that Santon can join Roma because right now the aim is Newcastle."
Santon has been with Inter since 2008 and made 16 appearances in all competitions during the first half of last season before going on loan to Cesena for the second half of the campaign.
Newcastle have turned to him having failed to date to push home their interest in PSV Eindhoven's Erik Pieters.
Holland international Pieters played in yesterday's 6-1 Eredivisie demolition of Excelsior with the Magpies yet to agree a fee with his club after a lengthy pursuit.
With time running out fast ahead of Wednesday's transfer deadline, Pardew is desperate to get his business done with his current squad in need of reinforcement despite a hugely encouraging start to the new campaign.
He is hopeful too of landing another striker, although Leon Best once again delivered for him yesterday with a matchwinning double against Fulham. However, target Modibo Maiga played in Sunday's 2-1 win over St Etienne after ending his self-imposed exile from the squad as he tried to force through a move to Tyneside.
Newcastle are ready to tough it out to do business at the prices they are prepared to pay, but Pardew revealed after Sunday's 2-1 victory over Fulham that the lack of tangible progress was frustrating.
He said: "I am frustrated that we haven't got a couple of bodies in yet, and I think [managing director] Derek [Llambias] and [club secretary] Lee [Charnley] and [owner] Mike [Ashley] are frustrated as well. Hopefully, we will get it over the line this week."
Source: PA
