NEWCASTLE United have made a preliminary approach for versatile Ajax defender Vurnon Anita.

However, weekend reports suggesting a fee has been agreed are premature, and the Magpies are not viewing the 23-year-old as a potential replacement for Cheik Tiote.

Anita is a highly-rated left-back, who has also made a number of Eredivisie appearances as a defensive midfielder.

Newcastle officials have been in touch with their counterparts at the Amsterdam Arena to discuss a possible deal, and their initial soundings are understood to have received a favourable response.

With Danny Simpson expected to leave St James' Park this summer, Magpies manager Alan Pardew is keen to sign both a left-back and right-back before the transfer window closes.

France international Mathieu Debuchy remains his preferred option on the right-hand side, although Pardew will be hoping the defender does not have an eye-catching Euro 2012, with Inter Milan also interested in acquiring his services.

Anita is one of the leading candidates for the left-back berth, with Davide Santon set to switch between both positions next season.

Clearly, the fact Anita could also slot into midfield if required is an added bonus, but the Dutchman is not being pursued as a potential replacement for Tiote, who continues to be linked with both Chelsea and Manchester United.

Newcastle are aware of the mounting interest in Tiote, but remain confident of holding on to the influential midfielder, who signed a six-and-a-half-year deal as recently as February 2011.

Anita is a Dutch international of Antillean descent who joined Ajax's youth programme in 1999. He made his senior debut in 2006 and has gone on to make more than 100 appearances for Ajax's first team.

He made his senior Holland debut in May 2010, but was omitted from Bert van Marwijk's final squad for the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.

His valuation could yet prove something of a problem, as Ajax are determined to land at least £7m before they will allow him to leave.

Newcastle are reluctant to match such a high valuation, and despite weekend suggestions that a deal has been agreed between the two clubs, further talks will be needed to reach a compromise.

Those talks are likely to take place later this week, although Anita is currently on holiday so because of the need for a medical, a transfer could not be concluded before next week at the earliest anyway.

Newcastle's strong ongoing interest in full-backs suggests Simpson's time at St James' is rapidly drawing to an end.

The Tyneside hierarchy have become increasingly infuriated with the former Manchester United defender's refusal to sign a new deal, a stance they feel is being driven by his agent.

As a result, no further talks are planned, and with Simpson about to enter the final year of his current contract, Newcastle are ready to cash in.

QPR, Fulham and West Ham have all indicated a willingness to make an approach, and Pardew is planning for next season without Simpson's involvement.

The 25-year-old has spent three years on Tyneside and is understood to have turned down an offer of around £25,000-a-week.

* While European eyes are focused on Euro 2012, Tiote and Papiss Cisse were both involved in the latest round of African World Cup qualifiers at the weekend.

Cisse opened the scoring as Senegal took on Uganda in Kampala, but a Godfrey Walusimbi penalty meant the Newcastle striker's side had to be content with a 1-1 draw.

Tiote won his 29th international cap as Ivory Coast played out a 2-2 draw with Morocco, picking up his customary booking as goals from Salomon Kalou and Kolo Toure earned the Ivorians a point.

* Newcastle are set to be involved in a pre-season tournament in Portugal on the weekend of July 27-28.

The competition, which will take place on the Algarve, is also set to involve Portuguese side Porto and Greek outfit Olympiacos.