Borussia Monchengladbach have lined up a replacement for Newcastle United target Marcus Thuram, according to Sport Bild.
Out of contract at the end of the season, it is believed the Bundesliga club are resigned to cashing-in on the 25-year-old.
Gladbach are already preparing to replace Thuram. It is believed they have identified Dion Drena Beljo, who currently plays for NK Osijek in Croatia, as his successor.
Bild’s report claims it would take just £10.5m to sign the France international in January.
Although they deem Inter Milan as the current frontrunners, Fussball Transfers previously claimed the attacker would lean towards the Magpies if Bayern Munich failed to reprise their interest.
Gladbach look ready to sell Thuram
With a striker lined up to replace the Frenchman, it appears the German club have resigned to the fact Thuram is set to leave in January.
This has probably been accentuated by his strong campaign out in Qatar, in which he helped Didier Deschamps’ side through to the final.
Although he didn’t make the starting XI, the attacker came off the bench on five different occasions.
He even made the pitch in the first half of the World Cup final, in which he later crucially assisted to tie the match 2-2.
Previously lauded by former Gladbach teammate Denis Zakaria as ‘phenomenal’, a cut-price deal for the player would indicate a brilliant bit of business for the Magpies.
Therefore, although there will be heavy competition involved in the race, Newcastle should do all they can to land him in January.