NEWCASTLE UNITED had a representative at Griffin Park to run the rule over Brentford’s predatory forward line on Saturday, and in particular Said Benrahma.

The 24-year-old has been a revelation for the Bees this season and was impressive again as Thomas Frank’s side stayed firmly in the promotion mix with a win over Middlesbrough.

The Algerian has formed a formidable attacking triumvirate with Ollie Watkins and Bryan Mbuemo to help put Brentford in the play-off zone, and within touch of leaders Leeds and West Brom.

Newcastle are looking to bolster their forward line and have not been afraid to look at the Championship, where they had shown an interest in Hull’s Jarrod Bowen before his £22m move to West Ham United.

Benrahama can play anywhere in the final third and he has scored eight times since moving to London from France, where he had spells with Chateuroux, Ajaccio, Angers and Nice. Newcastle were aware of him before he moved to Brentford, having scouted the French league extensively.

Newcastle made a number of loan additions during the transfer window but the work will begin again in the summer when they will be looking to make permanent signings.

It is too early to say whether Danny Rose, Valentino Lazaro or Nabil Bentaleb will be staying on Tyneside for the longer term. All three have mad their bows in a black and white shirt though.

A lot will depend on whether a consortium led by Amanda Staveley and funded largely by the Saudi sovereign investment fund is successful in buying the club from Mike Ashley.

But head coach Steve Bruce knows that plans need to start already for the summer when Newcastle will be looking to build on his first year in charge – and they will see the loan signings’ deals expire.

Rose is one of those and it has emerged that there is strong interest from across the English Channel for his signature.

The 29-year-old will become a free agent when his contract at Tottenham expires in the summer and Newcastle will be interested in keeping him if the loan goes well.

But PSG, as an overseas club, are in a position to be able to talk to him now given he has entered the final six months of his contract.

Rose left Spurs after seven years on deadline day when Newcastle secured his services until the end of the season.

His reasons for taking the switch included the opportunity to return to north to be nearer to his Doncaster roots and those could play a part again in the summer.

Newcastle moved for Rose after injuries to Paul Dummett and Jetro Willems. The latter impressed on loan and the Magpies were considering making the deal permanent and they could still revisit that.

PSG are keeping an eye on his performances at St James’ Park and have identified him as a possibility with Layvin Kurzawa expected to join Arsenal or Juventus in the summer.

The French champions have big money to spend and Rose will not be returning to Tottenham having fallen out with Jose Mourinho.

“I do feel I wasn’t given as much of a chance as everybody else in the backline,” Rose told BBC Radio 5 Live. “I did want to play for him.

“I knew after a month (of Mourinho joining) I was never going to play.”