Newcastle United refused to enter an auction for new Borussia Dortmund signing Pierre Emerik Aubameyang.

The Journal says United had been in contact with St Etienne over the last 10 days but do not appear to have been involved when things heated up over the last 48 hours.

They had been encouraged by agents working on his behalf - and by Aubameyang himself - in the last week, but Mike Ashley appears keen to recruit within a budget again.

The striker moved to BVB for £18 million.