Birmingham City made an approach for Ranger on Tuesday but their offer was turned down, while another London-based Championship club have firmed up their interest in the past 24 hours too – only for that approach to be rebuffed by United bosses.
Ranger is expected to leave the club before the end of the August transfer window after falling foul of Magpies manager Alan Pardew at the end of last season.
Former United chief Chris Hughton – now manager of Birmingham – is keen to add the young forward to his attacking arsenal.
But Newcastle do not believe that there is any point in sending him to St Andrews on loan – because the financially-stricken Blues will not be able to broker a permanent deal for the striker.
That has dismayed the forward, who would welcome a move to the second city, and a reunion with a boss who would protect him on and off the pitch and also offer him the chance to rebuild his career in the second tier.
Ranger has been told that he has little prospect of first-team football at St James’ Park.
So far the only team to make a bid to take him permanently is Blackpool, who had an offer in excess of £1million accepted earlier in the summer transfer window.
Negotiations with the Tangerines broke down over personal terms, however, and Ranger left for the Low Countries with Newcastle’s reserve team earlier in the month.