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.
