Newcastle are exploring other options after their move for Marseille midfielder Pierre Emile Hojbjerg broke down on Monday. 

The Denmark international had been identified as the experienced organiser that suited the plans of new boss Matthias Jaissle and talks had initially gone well but the 31-year-old changed his mind over the deal. 

Newcastle had also considered Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha as a potential back-up but after putting in effort on Hojbjerg, that has left the door open for Aston Villa to step up their negotiations with the Portuguese. 

Hojbjerg is considering his options with AC Milan also understood to be interested if he decides against staying with Marseille.

Palhinha, also 31, became a target for Villa after Amadou Onana suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the World Cup.

Talks had initially gone well but the 31-year-old changed his mind over the Newcastle deal

Villa director of football Damian Vidagany told German outlet Bild: ‘Joao Palhinha is a very good player who would fit our plans. We are in talks, but there is currently no agreement. If something were to happen, it would always be based on the great respect we have for Bayern.’

Villa lost 2-1 to Bayern in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong over the weekend and Palhinha came on as a substitute.