Newcastle United have identified Monaco centre-back Aymen Abdennour as their chief defensive target this summer - and have made a £12 million bid, according to reports in France. Foot Mercato have claimed that the Magpies have opened the expected bidding war for the centre-back by offering 17 million (£12 million) for the Tunisian international - although Monaco want north of £15 million. The 25-year-old centre-back has been on Newcastles radar for several seasons having impressed at Toulouse and then Monaco in Ligue 1 but there are a long list of suitors queuing up to entice him away from the Stade Louis II - including Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Inter Milan. https://twitter.com/footmercato/status/614067000197971968 Capped 33 times by Tunisia, Abdennour is regarded as one of the most-consistent defensive performers in France - although it is also believed he has already made it to clear to Newcastle that he is not interested in moving to the North East. Having helped Monaco to third place in the table and to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, Abdennours agent revealed a couple of weeks ago that the defender could look to move on should there be interest. Newcastle, Arsenal and Everton are just a few of the Premier League sides who would love to bring him to England for next season. The 6ft 2in centre-back started his career at toile du Sahel in his native Tunisia, spending six months on loan at Werder Bremen in 2010, before moving to Toulouse in 2011. A transfer to Monaco then followed last summer after an impressive six-month loan spell. In all he has made 140 league appearances, scoring eight times. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow whatculture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.