Newcastle United could target Nottingham Forest midfielder Ryan Yates if they fail to avoid relegation to the Championship this season.
Despite huge financial backing from their new Saudi owners and a flurry of signings ahead of the transfer deadline, the Magpies face a fight to preserve their Premier League status.
Relegation back to the second tier would be humiliating for the north-east giants amid their newfound wealth and expectations levels.
However, it appears they are not taking survival for granted and have reportedly drawn up a list targets in the event of relegation.
And that list, report the Mirror, features Forest middleman Yates, who has been monitored by Newcastle scouts and is said to have "emerged as a strong possibility after rave reviews this season".
Yates has often polarised opinion among Reds fans, who have debated his value to the side.
But the 24-year-old has been a key man during Forest’s rise up the Championship table under head coach Steve Cooper.
