Newcastle look set to fail in their attempts to sign Andre Ayew on a free with Liverpool the Marseille forward's preferred destination.
The Ghana international looks likely to leave the Stade Velodrome in the summer after turning down the offer of a new contract, with Marseille eager for him to take a pay cut.
A host of clubs are set to move for the 25-year-old, with Liverpool, Everton, Newcastle and German side Borussia Dortmund said to have already made Ayew pre-contract offers.
The Toon have been linked with Ayew extensively over the last year and chief scout Graham Carr has been to watch the forward on several occasions.
However, Ayew is said to prefer a move to either Liverpool or Dortmund, according to reports in France, especially if one of those clubs can offer him European football.