Monaco defender Antonio Barreca is one of a number of left-backs being considered by Newcastle United, according to Sky in Italy.
Rafael Benitez is keen to bring in another left-sided player, with Barreca and Paris Saint-Germain's Stanley N'Soki - a player they also had interest in last summer - being monitored.
Barreca only joined Monaco from Torino last summer, and has since provided two assists in his nine first-team appearances.
However, the 23-year-old has been on the fringes of the first team since Thierry Henry's arrival as manager, making appearances in the French Cup and Champions League, and, more recently, turning out for the club's second team in National II.
Benitez wants to bolster his squad in January, but has been unable to make any additions with only just over a week remaining in the mid-season window.
The Spaniard has relied on Paul Dummett to fill the left-back slot this season, and has often employed three centre-halves when the 27-year-old has been forced to miss out with a persistent hamstring problem.
Summer target N'Soki, who is a France U21 international, has made 11 appearances in the PSG first team this season.