Newcastle United are reportedly preparing to make an offer for RC Lens midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia.
The 18-year-old, who has received a number of plaudits for his performance in Ligue 2 this season, has been widely tipped to claim the Young Player of the Year award.
The Magpies have been monitoring Kondogbia's progress for some time and manager Alan Pardew is now ready to make a £2m bid, according to The Mirror.
However, they are expected to face competition from Italian duo Roma and Napoli for the French youth international.