Newcastle have reportedly launched a bid to re-sign Andy Carroll from Liverpool.
Carroll joined Liverpool from the Magpies for £35million in January 2011 but despite an improvement in form at the end of last season has largely struggled on Merseyside.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has hinted that he could be prepared to let the 23-year-old leave the club on loan, with AC Milan, Aston Villa, Fulham, and West Ham thought to be keen.
But Newcastle last week refused to rule out a move for the England international, and according to Sky Sports, the club have made an offer to take their former striker back to the Tyneside on a season-long loan deal with a view to a permanent transfer next summer.
Liverpool are open to the idea of selling their record signing, although according to Sunday’s report, Carroll would “reluctantly” only consider a loan switch away from Merseyside.
How popular the move would be with Newcastle fans remains to be seen, as Carroll was widely criticised by the Toon Army after his big-money move.
Magpies boss Alan Pardew last week was reluctant to discuss the player’s future.
“There is a lot of talk about players when new managers go in and their situations get all cloudy,” he told Sky Sports News.
“I don’t think that’s completely resolved, one way or the other. I wouldn’t really like to comment.
“He did an absolutely terrific job here. I have always supported him while he has been at Liverpool when other people weren’t. I thought he got a bit of a raw deal, if I’m honest.
“I think he’s going to be a great player, but where he treads the boards, so to speak, we will have to wait and see.”