While the pressure on the manager has grown from the stands following five consecutive defeats in a row in the Premier League, there have been discussions behind the scenes aimed at the close season.
Chief scout Graham Carr has had success in recruiting from both France and Holland, but it is understood there are others under consideration from other countries in the hope of gaining value for money.
Having been constantly given mixed messages over the likes of Montpellier’s Remy Cabella and Lyon’s Clement Grenier, Newcastle are exploring alternatives to the sought after playmaker and the Portuguese league has thrown up a couple of potential signings.
As well as keeping tabs on Sporting Lisbon’s Spanish winger Diego Capel, Benfica’s exciting midfielder Filip Djuricic is on the radar again having previously tried to land him following the sale of Yohan Cabaye in January.
Djuricic, 22, first caught the eye of Carr when he impressed playing for Heerenveen. He only left the Dutch club last summer in a £5m deal having scored 26 goals in 111 matches.
Benfica boss Jorge Jesus has played him sparingly in his preferred central midfield position and he has become unsettled, so his name has been floated around a number of European clubs.