NEWCASTLE UNITED have been offered the opportunity to sign Inter Milan duo Stefan de Vrij and Marcelo Brozovic.

Since becoming the richest club in the world in the wake of Amanda Staveley’s Saudi Arabia-backed takeover, the Magpies have been inundated by approaches from agents offering to set up deals in the January transfer window.

Most have been shelved, with new head coach Eddie Howe determined not to adopt a scattergun approach to recruitment when the window reopens at the turn of the year.

However, the approach involving de Vrij and Brozovic is understood to have been of significant interest within the corridors of power at St James’ Park, both because of the duo’s international pedigree and Inter’s apparent willingness to do business in January.

There is a feeling that Premier League clubs will be reluctant to sell or loan players to Newcastle because of their unhappiness at the way in which the takeover was approved, hence the Magpies’ growing interest in a number of overseas markets, with Italy’s Serie A close to the top of the list.

Brozovic, a 29-year-old midfielder with 70 international caps for Croatia, would be of obvious interest given Newcastle’s limited options at the heart of midfield.

The former Dynamo Zagreb playmaker has entered the final year of his contract with Inter and, crucially, is yet to agree to a new deal at the San Siro. Assuming that position remains unchanged, it would make sense for Inter to look to cash in at the turn of the year.

De Vrij, a 29-year-old Dutch centre-half, is in the final 18 months of his deal, having joined Inter from Lazio in 2018.

He helped Inter win the Serie A title last season, and has been involved with their Champions League campaign this term, but his future has been the subject of growing speculation in Italy.

His agents are understood to have flagged up his potential availability to a number of English clubs, including Tottenham and Everton, with Newcastle regarded as a viable option because of their new-found wealth.