Newcastle United are closing in on FC Twente striker Luuk de Jong.

Reports in Portugal yesterday suggested that Benfica had backed out of the race to sign De Jong as a proposed fee of close to £10million is too rich for even one of Portugal's biggest clubs.

And that does make Newcastle even clearer favourites to land the 21-year-old.

AD Sportwereld says Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is still on the trail of De Jong.