5. Joleon Lescott
Now that Kinnear has missed out on Brazilian defender Douglas, and also
James Tomkins, he could now look at other central defensive options, one of which is Manchester City's fringe player Joleon Lescott. The England international only made 18 Premier League appearances under Roberto Mancini last season having struggled to dislodge the centre-back partnership of Vincent Kompany and Matija Nastasic at the Etihad. The 30-year-old knows he needs regular, first team football if his World Cup hopes next summer are to be kept alive, and could find a move to St James' Park appealing.
Newcastle are interested in the ex-Everton man, as are his former club along with Aston Villa. Lescott's arrival on Tyneside would bring some experience to the Magpies' back four and could help shore up a defence that conceded 68 goals last season - only Aston Villa and relegated Wigan and Reading conceded more.