Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew is stepping up plans to bring in a new defensive signing in January.

Pardew needs to find cover for injured centre-half Steven Taylor and also must find an outright left-back after the August sale of Jose Enrique to Liverpool.

Montpellier defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and PSV Eindhoven fullback Erik Pieters are both under consideration on Tyneside.