Newcastle United are in talks over the signing of Brentford's Alan Judge as they bid to fight off other suitors, according to reports.
The 27-year-old is fighting to return to fitness having undergone a series of successful operations since suffering a double leg-break at Ipswich Town in April.
Any deal may not be finalised until January, according to Sky Sports, due to the Republic of Ireland star's ongoing recovery.
But Newcastle have been keen to bring the discussions forward due to interest from a number of other clubs.
Judge, who signed for the Bees from Blackburn in 2014 and has scored 17 Championship goals for the club, will not be fit to play until the end of October at the earliest and is currently unlikely to pass a medical.
He earned his first Republic of Ireland cap against Switzerland in March, but missed out on the Euro 2016 squad due to his injury.
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