Newcastle United have pulled back from talks to sign outright Schalke midfielder Nabil Bentaleb.

Bentaleb spent the second-half of last season on-loan with the Toon.

However, after initially intimating a willingness to sign the midfielder permanently, Sport1 says Newcastle have now gone cold.

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce has made the call to pursue other targets.

S04 sports director Jochen Schneider said: "As of today, I am assuming that he will stay with us because there is simply nothing concrete."