NEWCASTLE are reportedly preparing to pay £31million for Inter Milan and Croatia midfielder Marcelo Brozovic.
Eddie Howe is keen to add reinforcements to his squad in the summer as they prepare for European football.
Marcelo Brozovic is being linked with a move away from Inter Milan this summerGetty
A stunning 6-1 victory over Tottenham on Sunday moved the Magpies up to third place in the Premier League table.
And failing a late collapse, they will be in the Champions League next season.
According to Croatian outlet Sportske Novosti, Newcastle are eyeing up Brozovic as a potential transfer at the end of the season.
It is understood his arrival would free up Bruno Guimaraes to move into a more attacking role.
Barcelona are also interested in the Croatian international – who has 85 caps for his country.
And Liverpool are known to be monitoring his situation.
But Saudi-backed Newcastle have the financial power to facilitate a deal for Brozovic – who has started just 13 league games this season.
And they are expected to offer him a substantial salary package to sweeten the deal.
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Brozovic, who joined Inter Milan from Dinamo Zagreb in 2015, has a contract until 2026.
He has played more than 300 games for the Serie A giants, contributing 30 goals and 38 assists.
He has claimed a Serie A title and Coppa Italia during his eight-year spell at the club.
The midfield engine also reached the World Cup final with Croatia in 2018 and the semi-finals last year.