According to reports in London, Newcastle are monitoring Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips as manager Glenn Roeder prepares his rebuilding plans.
The 24-year-old England international is one of several players identified by the 50-year-old as prospective summer signings, although the Magpies are a long way from making any move.
Roeder is due to sit down this week with chairman Freddy Shepherd to draw up a recruitment shortlist, but is aware he will have to sell before he can make any purchases.
Wright-Phillips has been a peripheral figure since his £21million move to Stamford Bridge last summer, and was the subject of an enquiry from the Magpies' before leaving Eastlands.
He only started 15 of the club's 53 games last season.
One of those appearances came against the Magpies in the FA Cup quarter-finals on March 22, when he was involved in Robbie Elliott's controversial dismissal. This incident led to him being booed at every touch after he was introduced as a second-half substitute in the Blues' 1-0 league defeat at St James' Park on the final day of the campaign.