NEWCASTLE UNITED have held discussions over Jens Cajuste, but will not be meeting FC Midtjylland’s £13m valuation of the Swedish midfielder.

Magpies manager Steve Bruce is determined to overhaul his midfield this summer and admitted the position was a priority area in the wake of last weekend’s friendly defeat at York City.

As well as pursuing former loanee Joe Willock, and discussing a possible loan deal for Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher, Newcastle officials have also held talks with Midtjylland over Cajuste, a 21-year-old defensive midfielder who boasts five senior international caps with Sweden.

Midtjylland are expected to sell Cajuste this summer, and it is telling that the youngster was left out of the Danish side’s squad for Tuesday’s Champions League qualifier with Celtic, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Cajuste is not expected to feature in next week’s return game in Denmark, but his current employers are determined to bank at least £13m if they are to sanction his departure in the next few weeks,

Midtjylland have already turned down a £10m offer from French club Rennes, underlining their willingness to dig their heels in as they look to thrash out a deal.

Newcastle are aware of Midtjylland’s stance, and are understood to be unwilling to go as high as £13m for a player that only made his senior debut in the Danish league three years ago.

Senior Magpies officials have held discussions with their counterparts in Denmark, but are yet to table a formal player as they engage in something of a waiting game.

Brentford, who boast strong links with Midtjylland, have also been mentioned as possible suitors, although the Premier League newcomers, who are set to sign another long-term Newcastle target, Kristoffer Ajer, are also understood to be reluctant to meet Cajuste’s current valuation.

With Matty Longstaff having been lined up for a loan move next season, question marks over the future of Isaac Hayden and Jonjo Shelvey currently nursing a calf problem, Newcastle are short of midfield options.

“We’re very short in the middle of the park at the minute,” said Bruce, in the wake of last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at York’s LNER Stadium. “Very, very short – it’s something we need to address.”

Newcastle return to action when they head to Doncaster Rovers tomorrow evening.