Newcastle United were keen on Hull City striker Abel Hernandez over the summer, says his agent.
Three Sky Bet Championship clubs were interested in signing Hernandez before he suffered a ruptured Achilles in August.
His agent Pablo Bentancur told Tutto Mercato: “He had an important market, strong interest from Aston Villa and Birmingham, they wanted him at all costs, and there was also a chance to go to Newcastle.
“It's a bad thing, but football is the way it is. Abel has strength and is young, he will be back."