The Magpies were pushing to sign Victor Munoz, viewing the Osasuna and Spain winger as an ideal option to replace Anthony Gordon after his move to Barcelona.
While a fee had been agreed, along with personal terms, a deal fell through out of nowhere. Liverpool hijacked the move, joining the race at the last minute and securing the signing in double quick time.
As a result, Newcastle are back in the market for wingers, and there is a new option on the cards this summer for Eddie Howe and his team.
After missing out on Munoz, it appears as though Newcastle are shopping in Spain again, as Mundo Deportivo claims that the side are after Real Betis star Abde Ezzalzouli, better known as just Abde.
The former Barcelona star is valued at roughly £52 million by the Verdiblancos, with 20 per cent of that fee set to go back to the Blaugrana as a result.
It’s claimed that Real Betis are well aware of the interest from Newcastle, and are already looking in the market for potential replacements for the 24-year-old.
That included 19 goal involvements in La Liga, while there were some impressive displays in the Europa League over the course of the campaign as well.
There was some hope that his form would result in a World Cup call-up, but an untimely injury ruled him out from joining up with Morocco for the tournament.
Newcastle’s summer transfer window last year was nothing short of a failure. The inability to sell at the right time and land players made the club look weak and the squad look even weaker.
They cannot afford to do the same this time around. The sale of Gordon suggests they have learned from the lessons of late sales from last year, but there is more to do.