Benitez aims to make former Liverpool midfielder Newcastle's next signing - report
By Coral Barry
Newcastle will do battle with two other Championship clubs for the signature of Wolves midfielder Conor Coady, according to a report.
The 23-year-old joined Wolves from Liverpool in a £2million deal last summer, but has caught the eye of several rival Championship clubs after a solid debut season.
talkSPORT claim Newcastle will face competition from Sheffield Wednesday and QPR for Coady, who has become a peripheral figure at Molineux Stadium since returning to pre-season.
The Liverpool-born Coady still has two years left to run on his current contract with Wolves after making 39 appearances for the club last season, but is reportedly being tipped as a possible departure after the club's takeover.
Chinese company Fosun International bought Wolves for £30million last week and are eager to inject fresh cash and faces into their squad.
When Rafael Benitez was manager of Liverpool, Coady was starring in their youth ranks, but did not make his debut until after the Spaniard left in 2010 and made just two appearances for the Reds.
Coady's sudden change in circumstance at Wolves has shocked his agent, James Lippett, but he hinted he will have no trouble finding another club for his player.
"Conor has been outstanding over the past two seasons in the Championship," Lippett told Talksport.
"I have no idea why he has suddenly fallen down the pecking order at Wolves, but I'm sure that there will be good clubs that will want Conor if Wolves don't."
In other Newcastle news, one Magpies youngster is eager to take his chance in the first-team this season.