Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce handed Valentino Lazaro a start against Liverpool at St James' Park.
It is believed that Lazaro wants assurances about game-time if he is to even consider a £20million move from Inter Milan.
Talks between Lazaro and Newcastle are set up for next week with the Austria winger's representatives.
Bruce also went with Danny Rose from the start as part of a three-man defence with Javier Manquillo and the only fit centre-back in Federico Fernandez forming the rearguard for the Magpies.
Nabil Bentaleb also started in midfield but fit-again Sean Longstaff and Isaac Hayden were both only named on the bench.
With his future in the air, Matty Longstaff watched from the stands with Udinese keen on signing him this summer and interest from Bundesliga side Schalke 04.
UNITED : Dubravka, Fernandez, Rose, Manquillo, Lazaro, Shelvey, Bentaleb, Almiron, Ritchie, Saint-Maximin, Gayle.
Subs: Darlow, Carroll, Joelinton, Muto, Hayden, Yedlin, S Longstaff, Watts, Young.
