Newcastle are exploring other options after their move for Marseille midfielder Pierre Emile Hojbjerg broke down on Monday.
The Denmark international had been identified as the experienced organiser that suited the plans of new boss Matthias Jaissle and talks had initially gone well but the 31-year-old changed his mind over the deal.
Newcastle had also considered Bayern Munich‘s Joao Palhinha as a potential back-up but after putting in effort on Hojbjerg, that has left the door open for Aston Villa to step up their negotiations with the Portuguese.
Hojbjerg is considering his options with AC Milan also understood to be interested if he decides against staying with Marseille.
Palhinha, also 31, has also become a target for Villa after Amadou Onana suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the World Cup.
Villa director of football Damian Vidagany told German outlet Bild: ‘Joao Palhinha is a very good player who would fit our plans. We are in talks, but there is currently no agreement. If something were to happen, it would always be based on the great respect we have for Bayern.’
Talks had initially gone well but the 31-year-old changed his mind over the Newcastle deal
They have also missed out on top targets including Spain winger Victor Munoz, who opted to join Liverpool
Villa lost 2-1 to Bayern in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong over the weekend and Palhinha came on as a substitute.
It is proving to be a summer of unrest for Newcastle, who have sold club captain Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal, star forward Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, and midfielder Sandro Tonali to Tottenham.
Eddie Howe, the manager who saved them from relegation before transforming them into a Champions League club and their 56-year major trophy drought, then stepped down on July 31.
They have also missed out on top targets such as Spain winger Victor Munoz and Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi, who opted to join Liverpool and Aston Villa respectively.
Howe has since been replaced by a Jaissle, who joins from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli. The 38-year-old’s previous coaching experiences include a two-year spell at RB Salzburg preceded by a short-term stint at Austrian side Liefering.
They have recouped north of £250million following the sales of Gordon, Tonali and Guimaraes and have made five signings this summer – goalkeepers Lukas Hornicek and Ewen Jaouen, midfielders Aladji Bamba and Sean Steur and forward Bazoumana Toure.
Sporting director Ross Wilson is prioritising a midfield addition and a new full-back, with signings beyond that dependent on Jaissle’s assessment of what his squad then needs.
It is proving to be a summer of unrest for Newcastle, who have sold club captain Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal and have also lost key players in Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon too
Midfielder Joe Willock will join Besiktas if they meet Newcastle’s asking price, and sources believe there will likely be progress on that front. Goalkeeper Nick Pope has also been told he can leave and, while no offer has yet arrived, both Ipswich and Celtic are said to be monitoring his situation.
Meanwhile, Newcastle expect midfielder Lewis Miley to be fit for the season opener against Liverpool after recovering from a broken leg, but the game will come too soon for Tino Livramento.
The England defender is currently in the United States as he continues his rehabilitation from the calf injury that ruled him out of the World Cup. He could return on the second weekend of the campaign at Tottenham.
