Newcastle United are reportedly ready to open talks with Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk.
Magpies boss Alan Pardew has had the 20-year-old Groningen centre-back scouted a number of times this season, according to the Daily Star.
However, Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers are also interested in the player.
Van Dijk has been capped once for the Netherlands at Under-21 level.