Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson is said to have identified John Terry as the man to solve his side's defensive problems.
It is understood that the Magpies, bankrolled by their unexpected Champions League success, will make a bid to land the 21-year-old Chelsea stopper when the transfer window re-opens in January.
United were remaining tight-lipped on speculation that Robson will move for the former England Under-21 skipper today.
But with the inadequacies of the current rearguard having being cruelly exposed once again at Manchester United on Saturday, there is little doubt that the manager will act to ensure that the good work at the other end of the pitch does not go to waste.
The 69-year-old attempted to address the situation during the summer when he paid Ipswich Town #4.5million for 21-year-old Titus Bramble, but a combination of uncertain early form and injury have limited his progress to date.
Robson has instead relied upon various combinations of Nikos Dabizas and youngsters Andy O'Brien, Steve Caldwell, Aaron Hughes, Andy Griffin and Olivier Bernard since, and while each have performed admirably for much of their involvement, results such as Saturday's 5-3 reverse at Old Trafford and the 5-2 defeat at Blackburn, in which Dabizas was dismissed, have again raised questions.
Newcastle have repeatedly been linked with a move for Lazio's former Manchester United rock Jaap Stam, while Chelsea's William Gallas has also been touted as a target.
However, it is believed that Terry, currently out of favour at Stamford Bridge following his recovery from a knee injury, is the man in the frame, and amid Chelsea's well-documented cash problems, the feeling is that a concerted move could bear fruit.