Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew remains interested in Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland.
The Sunday Sun says Pardew and his coaching team saw promise in the injury-hit midfielder during his loan spell last term.
Enough potential, it seems, for them to ask his agent to keep them in the loop on his availability - with a view to a cut-price August swoop for the Irish playmaker.
With loans off the agenda at St James' Park for the time being, Newcastle would be prepared to pay around £2million for Ireland.