The Mail Online report Newcastle target Allan Saint-Maximin is also on the radar of Premier League rivals Crystal Palace, who are claimed to have identified the Nice winger as a replacement for Wilfried Zaha, should he leave.
Newcastle were said to be close to agreeing personal terms with Saint-Maximin, but were only willing to pay €25 million (£22.5m), with Nice wanting €30 (£27m).
If the interest is genuine from Newcastle – although there will be doubts about that while no manager is in place – and the club missed out on the player over such a minimal difference in valuation, it would sum up transfer deals under Lee Charnley.
His reluctance to ever meet an asking price, has appeared to cost Newcastle on numerous deals in the past.
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Although the strategy worked with the Miguel Almiron transfer, there are very few other times it has proved successful.
Saint-Maximin would excite fans if he joined Newcastle
Saint-Maximin is an exciting prospect, and at just 22-years-old, has time to get even better. Of course, he is just the type of player who would have benefited from the guidance of Rafa Benitez, but that is now not likely to happen.
The winger scored six goals, and had five assists in 34 Ligue 1 games last season, and has allegedly caught the eye of Watford, as well as Newcastle and Palace.
Should Zaha move away from Selhurst Park, and with the impending transfer of Aaron Wan Bissaka to Manchester United, Palace will have real money to spend this summer.
But should Newcastle appoint Patrick Vieira – believed to be on their shortlist of managerial candidates – who currently manages Saint-Maximin at Nice, Newcastle may have an ace in their pocket in any pursuit for the winger.