Steven Gerrard jetted to Seville to seal the deal for Diego Carlos last week - although Newcastle United are understood to be look at a list of alternative centre-backs after summer interest in the Brazilian defender.
Eddie Howe is working with his scouting team and club owners on transfers ahead of Newcastle 's July 1 return to pre-season. Of course, it is early days but it is Villa who have set the tone in the Premier League and got off to a flying start.
United spent a large chunk of January trying to negotiate with Sevilla on Carlos only for the player to decide to stay in Spain. But Villa have made a flying start to the window, securing a lucrative deal for Carlos, and signing another former Toon target Boubacar Kamara from Marseille on an impressive Bosman deal.
READ MORE: Aston Villa reach agreement to sign Newcastle January transfer target Diego Carlos
The final price for Carlos is thought to be close to £34million which includes add ons. And while once there was talk of a clause of around £64million for Carlos, it is thought that Sevilla were content to push the deal through at a lower price because it will put them in better shape heading into the end of their financial year which closes on June 30.
Although the explanation to Sevilla fans has not gone down well and they don't agree with the fact his value has dramatically dipped in the space of four months when Newcastle were being quoted mega money. After landing Kamara last week, Gerrard beamed about Villa's excellent start to window.
The former Liverpool star said: "Again, straight away we’ve moved swiftly, we’ve moved quietly to try and get another big player in the door. To do that on day one of the off-season is a massive step. "Now it’s time to push and move forward for the next piece of the jigsaw."
United have a range of other options at centre-back with the list including James Tarkowski of Burnley. Although while there is interest, it is believed that the Burnley man is not necessarily first choice in that department.
