By Wayne Veysey

21st May, 2021 | 6:00pm

Sources: Newcastle set sights on signing Dickie and selling for 'huge' profit

Newcastle United are plotting a summer raid for Queens Park Rangers defender Rob Dickie, Football Insider understands.

The Magpies have held a long-term interest in the 25-year-old and considered signing the centre-back before he joined QPR from Oxford United last summer.

A Newcastle source has told Football Insider that manager Steve Bruce wants to strengthen his side’s defensive options in this summer’s transfer window and Dickie is a top target.

Bruce is a big admirer of Dickie and has been keeping tabs on him since he impressed against his Newcastle side in two FA Cup games in the 2019-20 season for Oxford.

United see Dickie as someone with huge potential who can develop and possibly offer them huge resale value in the future.

QPR would be reluctant to lose Dickie after just one season, but they are bracing themselves for interest this summer from top-flight clubs.

The accomplished defender, who made his mark at Cheltenham Town, has excelled since making the step up to the Championship with QPR.

The former England Under-19 international was rewarded for his fine form by sweeping the boards at the club’s end-of-season awards with three prizes.

Dickie was a virtual ever-present for QPR in his debut season.

He made 43 Championship starts among 46 appearances in all competitions and chipped in with three goals.

Dickie has a contract with Queens Park Rangers that runs until the summer of 2024.

In other news, exit-bound Newcastle United star has agreed the terms of a contract extension in huge boost.