Newcastle United are believed to be plotting to sign Atletico Madrid sensation Joao Felix, with the Magpies having reportedly made contact regarding a move for the Portugal international.
What's the word?
According to 90min, the Tynesiders are believed to have 'held talks' with the 23-year-old's agent, Jorge Mendes, with the forward seemingly in line for an exit from the LaLiga side in the January transfer window.
The suggestion is that the Spanish giants are open to sanctioning a loan departure next month, although Diego Simeone and co are looking to include a £100m permanent clause as part of the deal - something which could be a sticking point for potential suitors.
The piece notes that negotiations involving the St James' Park outfit are 'not as advanced' as some of their Premier League rivals, with the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal all currently in the frame for his signature.
Imagine him & Almiron
A new winger has seemingly been on the agenda for Eddie Howe's side of late, with the top-four hopefuls still arguably lacking a reliable presence on the left flank, with fleet-footed Frenchman Allan Saint-Maximin having yet again been hampered by injury this season.
In his absence, Jacob Murphy has been a regular fixture in that role, although the Englishman has only scored once and registered just a solitary assist in the top flight, showcasing the need for a more long-term, quality solution.
The addition of the aforementioned Felix could well prove to be the answer to that problem, with the "special talent" - as lauded by teammate Alvaro Morata - having registered seven goal involvements in just 18 appearances for his current side so far this season.
Despite taking on a reduced role under Simeone - starting just five league games this term - the former Benfica ace has still shown flashes of his quality, having also sparkled at the World Cup in recent weeks with one goal and two assists to his name in Qatar.
The £240k-per-week playmaker - who can also operate in a more central role - boasts a respectable tally of 51 goal involvements in 129 games during his spell in the Spanish capital, after previously netting 20 goals and providing 11 assists in just 43 games while in Lisbon.
A player who can clearly provide that creative and clinical spark in the final third, Felix could well help to shoulder the current goalscoring burden on the emerging talisman, Miguel Almiron, with the Paraguayan gem currently producing heroics on the right wing.
The diminutive speedster has scored nine goals in just 16 top-flight appearances under Howe so far this season, with the 28-year-old having picked up where he left off prior to the World Cup break after netting in fine fashion in the win over Leicester City on Boxing Day.
After scoring only once in the league last season, it has been a real tale of resurrection for the former Atlanta United ace, with the left-footed dynamo looking almost unstoppable having now registered a goal involvement in eight of his last nine Premier League games.
With Almiron already providing the goods down the right, adding Felix into the mix on the opposition flank could help Howe's men to inflict even further damage, with it set to be a real benefit for Newcastle to have another attacking weapon in their arsenal.