Newcastle targeting Torino midfielder Afriyie Acquah amid imminent takeover

Newcastle United are said to be interested in signing Torino's Afriyie Acquah during the January transfer window and are open to offering temperamental striker Aleksandar Mitrovic in a swap deal for the out-of-favour midfielder.

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez has told of his desire to see fresh additions arrive in the north east on a number of occasions over the last few months. He is currently waiting with baited breath for confirmation of how much he will be afforded to spend in the January transfer window, with a consortium led by Amanda Staveley likely to take over from much-maligned current owner Mike Ashley in the coming weeks.

After losing seven of their last eight Premier League matches, Newcastle are in desperate need of reinforcements as they bid to maintain their place in England's top-flight.

Their search for adequate acquisitions has led them to Serie A - a league Benitez knows well from his time at Napoli - with Acquah reportedly in their sights, according to Tuttosport, relayed by Football Italia.

Siniša Mihajlović has preferred to use the likes of Daniele Baselli, Tomas Rincon and Iago Falque over Acquah in his engine room this season, leading the latter to spend much of his time on the substitutes' bench.

The Ghanaian has only started twice for I Granata, though he was forced to miss five games with muscle problems. With his chances of a sustained run in the side at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino unlikely due to the competition he faces, the 25-year-old may see fit to try his luck in the Premier League with Newcastle, who are in desperate need of an added injection of quality in the centre of the park with the untrustworthy Jonjo Shelvey and the inadequate Isaac Hayden failing to provide sufficient foil for summer signing Mikel Merino.

Reports suggest that Benitez will have a transfer kitty of around £30m ($40m) to spend next month, but he may attempt to forego a transfer fee and instead part with one of his headaches in the north east. Mitrovic has never managed to fully win Benitez's trust despite demonstrating his goalscoring prowess last season, and Newcastle may try thrash out a swap deal involving the Serbian and Acquah, with Torino said to be looking for back-up for Andrea Belotti.

Benitez has been keen to rid himself of Mitrovic for some time now, but it remains to be seen if Torino are willing to take on the baggage that comes with the former Anderlecht hitman.