Newcastle United have reportedly had a bid rejected for Lille midfielder Thiago Maia, according to La Voix du Nord, as cited on Get French Football News.
The midfielder has previously attracted interest from Chelsea and Barcelona but joined Lille last summer from Santos in a deal worth €14 million.
Maia, formerly of Santos, is one of the highest rated young Brazilian midfielders and has been tipped to be one of the stars of the future for some time.
Signed to become a key figure under Marcelo Bielsa, things quickly turned sour in France.
Lille quickly found themselves in a relegation battle and coupled with several off-the-field issues, they only narrowly avoided the drop.
Rafa Benitez is said to be a fan of the player and has been watching him for some time.
The Magpies will be looking to add some extra quality to their midfield over the summer to build upon their successful first season back in the Premier League.
