NEWCASTLE UNITED have stepped up efforts to help Rafa Benitez strike early on the transfer front – even if they look set to be left disappointed in their pursuit of one of the German game’s hottest defensive talents.

Sources close to Hamburg claim the Magpies have made a “concrete offer” in terms of a wage packet to young full-back Josha Vagnoman, with the suggestion being he would receive €5.7m over three years on Tyneside.

Newcastle have moved for him in the hope of taking advantage of Hamburg’s first relegation from the Bundesliga, but the player has indicated that he could be prepared to stay where he is to develop his career.

Vagnoman does not turn 18 until December and is keen to keep playing as much first team football as he can, something he might find more difficult to command in the Premier League given his tender age.

Newcastle manager Benitez is keen to add experience to his ranks this summer but is also willing to target those with enormous potential too, like Vagnoman.

A string of Champions League clubs are keeping an eye on his situation too, including the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea, although the chances of starting for either would be even slimmer.

Newcastle are allowing Jesus Gamez to leave this summer and are looking for extra cover in the full-back areas, where DeAndre Yedlin and Paul Dummett are the mainstays of the team. Javier Manquillo is the alternative option but has not convinced anyone during his time on Tyneside with his performances.

Benitez is desperate to bring in players for a variety of positions before the start of the new season and ideally he would have the majority of his work done for the start of pre-season training.

Adding to his attacking ranks is certainly a priority and Galatasaray’s Garry Rodrigues is high in Newcastle’s thinking, which is why they are watching what happens in Istanbul carefully.

Galatasaray are due to find out this month if they are to face any sanctions from UEFA over Financial Fair play and that could lead to a number of players having to be sold.

Rodrigues, rated in the €17m bracket, would be one of those most likely even if the Turkish side are reluctant to let him go.

The 27-year-old can play wide or through the middle and he has been tracked by Benitez’s recruitment team for more than a year because of his performances for Galatasaray.

Rodrigues is hardly prolific but given his versatility he scores goals, highlighted by how he found the net ten times in his 40 appearances. If Galatasaray are faced with a situation where they need to sell this month then, Newcastle are ready to move to see if they can win the race for his signature.

Benitez knows he will be given cash to spend this summer from Ashley, although the size of the pot still remains unclear. There has also been no concrete development on the discussions over Benitez’s contract talks as he approaches the final year of his deal.

He will, clearly, have more money to spend if players are sold this summer too. He does not want the likes of Florian Lejeune and Jamaal Lascelles to leave, although there is significant interest in the pair from Sevilla and Everton respectively.