Victor Munoz, Said El Mala and Matias Fernandez-Pardo
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Newcastle United's worst transfer fears were realised last week when it emerged Liverpool had gazumped them to sign Victor Munoz from Osasuna.
The Magpies had agreed a fee for the Spanish international, had agreed personal terms and were putting the finishing touches for a medical in the USA together before Liverpool made their move and hijacked the deal.
After seeing moves for the likes of Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike, James Trafford and Benjamin Sesko collapse last summer after being hijacked by 'big six' clubs, it was the worst possible start - certainly in terms of public perception - to this summer's transfer window that it has happened again with their first outfield summer deal.
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Anthony Gordon's move to Barcelona earlier this summer means signing a new winger is one of the club's top priorities in the market so for Liverpool to snatch Munoz from under the noses of the Magpies was a huge blow.
Newcastle have had to turn to Plan B when it comes to signing another winger and we know they have monitored the likes of Real Betis' Abde Ezzalzouli, RB Leipzig's Antonio Nusa and Hoffenheim's Bazoumana Toure.
Lille's Belgian international forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo also features high up in their thinking, as well as Cologne's Said El Mala and, incredibly, both of those moves could be at risk of another Liverpool hijack - should Newcastle pursue them.
That is because it is understood both players feature on Liverpool's back-up list, should they fail in their pursuit of their top wide targets.
The Reds are preparing a huge bid for RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande, while Bradley Barcola of PSG is seen as an ambitious option at Anfield too.
Newcastle will follow those developments closely but they may need to move quickly to avoid another public 'defeat' at the hands of their Premier League rivals.
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