Newcastle United failed with a double swoop yesterday.
The Sun says Toon failed in two dramatic last-ditch bids to sign Bryan Ruiz and Liam Ridgewell.
Toon chiefs tried to hijack Fulham's swoop for FC Twente's £10million-rated Costa Rica hitman Ruiz.
They even put a helicopter on standby in London to whisk him to Tyneside after matching the fee and agreeing to offer a bigger salary.
But the two sides were unable to tie up the loose ends of the deal. And a bid for Birmingham defender Ridgewell, 27, also failed to beat the deadline.