Journalist George Caulkin has claimed that Newcastle United are looking at another target alongside Anthony Gordon.

The Lowdown: Newcastle keeping their options open

Newcastle had appeared to be pretty dormant in the January transfer window until the start of this week, when links between themselves and Gordon started to pick up pace, and these have only intensified with the winger having missed training on numerous occasions this week.

The Magpies were keen on Gordon over the summer and look to be trying to take advantage of Everton's precarious position both on and off the pitch to land a top target this month.

However, given Everton are said to be adamant about receiving £60m for their academy graduate - who has more bookings than goals this season - Newcastle are not pinning all of their hopes on him alone.

The Latest: PIF looking at Gordon alternatives

Caulkin has claimed on Pod on the Tyne that he's spoken to a senior source at Newcastle about their current situation amid the Gordon links.

He said: "I spoke to somebody very senior at the club yesterday, and they confirmed the Gordon interest, but there was also a kind of caveat that there was somebody else that they were looking at in the same position, so they haven't put all their eggs in one basket."

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The Verdict: Smart recruitment underway

It will be very comforting for Newcastle fans to hear that their club aren't just going all in on Gordon this month as they were seemingly led down a garden path last summer only to not have a chance of competing with the likes of Chelsea for his signature.

Reports have been circulating lately about Newcastle's interest in Brazilian youngster Matheus Franca, with some suggesting that bids have been rejected by Flamengo over the past few days, so he could well be the player Caulkin was talking about.

Something that Newcastle's new owners certainly won't do is pay over the odds for anyone, as they have walked away from deals for players such as James Maddison and Moussa Diaby in the past when they thought the prices were too high - and this approach has not done them any harm thus far.