Newcastle are linked with moves for two midfielders in today's Sunday newspapers.
The Daily Star on Sunday quotes United as one of three Premier League clubs looking at Brentford's brilliant Said Benrahma.
The Algerian has been the breakout star in the Championship and the Bees want a division record to sell the winger.
West Ham are leading the charge but the Star says Fulham and Newcastle are also interested.
But that seems unlikely, based on our knowledge of United's budget. Newcastle spent the lion's share of the money available in September, bringing in Jamal Lewis and Callum Wilson - while deals for free agents Ryan Fraser and Jeff Hendrick involved signing on fees.
He is a player they have looked at - along with the rest of the division - and Newcastle had money for loan moves but Benrahma would be in excess of £20million.
A more realistic target has emerged in Scotland, where the Sun claim United are running the rule over Celtic's attacking midfielder Ryan Christie.
The £10million-rated star's contract will run out in the summer and Nice and Burnley are also looking at the Scotland international.
Steve Bruce has asked his scouts to look at the best players in the SPL and the Magpies brought in third choice stopper Mark Gillespie from Motherwell in the summer.
