Newcastle United have made a loan bid for out of favour Celtic midfielder Olivier Ntcham, according to reports.
The 24-year-old has not played for the Parkhead side since the 2-0 win over Ross County just before Christmas and is yet to feature in a matchday squad after a place among the subs in an Old Firm derby defeat to Rangers in January.
Celtic rejected a deadline day bid from Ligue 1 side Brest for his services in October but could choose to part with the player as he enters the final 18 months of his deal.
Toon boss Steve Bruce is also keen on a move for Leicester City’s Hamza Choudhury and has been linked with Manchester United full back Brandon Williams after conceding any business Newcastle are able to do before Monday’s deadline would likely be in the loan market.
Several clubs in Ntcham's native France are also keeping tabs on the situation, but no formal bids have been received for the midfielder as yet, while West Bromwich Albion were also rumoured to be interested earlier in the window.
Sky Sports report Celtic would prefer an option or obligation to buy clause inserted into any offer.
Manchester City paid around €1 million to bring Ntcham to England from French club Le Havre as a teenager, however he never made a professional appearance for the club and was sent on loan to Genoa in Italy between 2015 and 2017.
He impressed enough during that spell for Celtic to part with a reported £4.5m fee, becoming a firm fixture in the side under Brendan Rodgers.
However, he has found a first team place harder to pin down under Neil Lennon this season with David Turnbull and Ismaila Soro promoted to starting positions in midfield.
The English transfer deadline is at 11pm on Monday, February 1, while the Scottish window closes an hour later.
