Sol Campbell is a free agent, having left Portsmouth this summer.
And the defender is in talks about becoming the club's second summer capture, following loan signing Danny Simpson, who joined last week from Manchester United.
Campbell – whose fiancee Fiona Barrett is from the region – made no secret of his keenness to join Newcastle, though the 34-year-old will not be able to command a salary anywhere near that which he picked up at Fratton Park.
He originally turned down an offer from Newcastle when he signed for Pompey.