NEWCASTLE are lining up a shock move for Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, according to reports.
Eddie Howe's men are restricted in the business they can conduct during the January transfer window due to Financial Fair Play restrictions.
Earlier this month, the Toon boss quashed talk of a move for Dominic Solanke by insisting they do not have the money to complete such a deal.
Yet despite their financial constraints, Newcastle still drew up a five-man shortlist to bolster their midfield.
This consisted of Manchester City's Kalvin Phillips, Bournemouth's Phillip Billing, Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney, Atalanta's Ederson and Djurgarden's Lucas Bergvall.
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But now they have abandoned those targets as they look towards Spurs man Hojbjerg, 28.
According to The Chronicle, they are eyeing up a loan move for the Denmark international.
It comes as the midfielder is playing a peripheral role under Ange Postecoglou.
He has featured in 20 Premier League games this season, but 15 of those have come off the bench.
Pape Matar Sarr, Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur have all been preferred to him.
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Reacting to Hojbjerg's potential arrival, one Newcastle fan said: "Not a bad shout for a short term fix of the number 6 problem."
But another replied: "Hope not as that would be a backward step."
Hojbjerg, who is also attracting interest from Juventus, was linked with a move away from Tottenham in the summer when Manchester United were said to be interested.
He has been in North London since arriving from Southampton for £15million in 2020.
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And he has racked up 167 appearances for Spurs, scoring 10 goals and providing 16 assists.
SunSport understands Tottenham are not interested in loaning him out in the January window.
Several of Howe's Newcastle midfielders are currently available due to a variety of fitness and off-field issues.
Joelinton, Sandro Tonali, Joe Willock and Elliot Anderson are all sidelined.
And Joelinton could be set to depart the club in the summer as he prepares to enter the final 12 months of his contract.
Meanwhile, The Magpies have rejected offers for Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson after formal proposal from Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid.
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