Newcastle striker Xisco, who has made little impact since his £5.7million switch from Deportivo la Coruna at the end of summer 2008, is attracting interest from North East rivals Middlesbrough. The Teessiders made an enquiry about the 24-year-old striker earlier in the transfer window and, although they received no encouragement on the terms that were offered, have not given up hope.
Xisco has made just 11 senior appearances and only four starts for the Magpies and actually spent last season on loan at Racing Santander.
Boro are understood to be offering to pay only a proportion of his wages, which are reputed to be in excess of £50,000 a week, although they are hoping that might eventually prove attractive to Newcastle if they run out of alternatives before Monday's transfer deadline.