Newcastle United are one of the teams interested in signing Carney Chukwuemeka this summer...

What's the word?

According to transfer insider Dean Jones, the Magpies are a project that could excite the Aston Villa contract rebel as interest in his signature hots up.

The 18-year-old recently rejected Villa's latest offer of a new deal, meaning he is free to leave the club next year. And St James' Park is just one mooted destination.

“I think it makes sense that they would want to know about his situation and whether he’d be interested, I think that there are so many clubs looking at his situation," claimed the Eurosport journalist to GIVEMESPORT.

"It doesn’t help that Barcelona are the top club interested because at the moment, you just assume that everyone is just going to sign for them.

“But if he doesn’t, then a club like Newcastle, who have got such an ambitious project, is probably exciting for him and might be the platform that he is looking for. So, I can believe that they will be in that race.”

One for the future

It's thought that the teenager is demanding around £100k-per-week from the Midlands outfit, as per Football Insider, whilst the likes of Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund are all interested.

Villa are resigned to the fact that he will not sign a new deal and have subsequently put up a £20m asking price, according to Fabrizio Romano.

If this turns out to be the case, then Magpies chief Dan Ashworth could well land quite the coup as Chukwuemeka would bolster the club's long-term ambitions.

Capped by England at U19 level, the young midfielder has already played 16 times for the senior side, including 14 appearances in the Premier League.

Originally born in Austria, the Villa gem has certainly caught the eye on the few occasions he has seen the pitch under Steven Gerrard and his predecessor Dean Smith.

Birmingham Mail contributor Patrick Rowe has dubbed the 18-year-old as a "generational talent", whilst scout Jacek Kulig believes the prospect is a "superstar in the making."

Chukwuemeka also featured in the 'Team of the Tournament' at the U19 European Championships, where he bagged on three occasions on England's way to the trophy.

On the above evidence, it's clear that the Villa starlet would be an exciting signing for many years to come, so the Magpies hierarchy must ensure they win the coveted race for his signature.

Their ambition could well be exactly what he's after and the fact that he gets to remain in England could also be a factor in their favour.

AND in other news, Romano reveals Newcastle's next "priority" after Sven Botman...