The Times reports that Newcastle United will attempt a triple January swoop for Inter pair Marcelo Brozovic and Stefan de Vrij, plus Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha.
The Premier League club is fighting relegation, but after the £305m take-over from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) last month, they are now ready to spend big on the transfer market.
According to the Times of London newspaper, three of their main targets are in Serie A.
These include a pair of star names at Inter, midfielder Brozovic and centre-back De Vrij.
However, while Brozovic in theory could be available as his contract is set to expire at the end of the current campaign, De Vrij would be a very different proposition.
Both are only prepared to leave Inter for a significant step up in their ambitions, so fresh from a Scudetto victory and in a good position to progress into the Champions League Round of 16, they would not consider Newcastle United to be any kind of improvement.
The third target is Lazio goalkeeper Strakosha, who is currently second choice behind Pepe Reina.
He is only playing in the Europa League, where a costly howler gifted a 1-0 victory to Galatasaray.