Newcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley has confirmed Manchester United playmaker Jesse Lingard wanted to move to St James' Park in the January transfer window.
Lingard, 29, pushed for an Old Trafford exit in search of regular game time but no move materialised ahead of the deadline despite interest from the Magpies and West Ham.
Red Devils interim manager Ralf Rangnick initially sanctioned the England international departing for pastures new before having a change of heart late in the window.