Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has reportedly told the club's hierarchy that he wants to sign Kieran Tierney, James Maddison and Moussa Diaby this summer.

The Magpies are currently on course to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since the 2002-03 season.

With six games left to play, Newcastle are sitting in third position and are eight points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

The Magpies have already started to draw up plans for their summer transfer business as they look to build a team that can compete in European football.

According to Football Insider, Howe informed the Newcastle hierarchy that his top targets are Tierney, Maddison and Diaby.

The report claims that Howe has told the club's sporting director Dan Ashworth to do everything in his power to sign the trio ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.

Tierney has fallen down the pecking order at Arsenal following Oleksandr Zinchenko's arrival from Manchester City last summer.

The Scotland international has been restricted to just five Premier League starts this season, and Newcastle are seemingly prepared to offer him regular playing time.

In contrast to Tierney, Maddison is still an integral part of the Leicester City squad, having registered nine goals and seven assists in 25 Premier League appearances this term.

However, there is widespread speculation that the midfielder could leave the King Power Stadium this summer even if the Foxes managed to avoid relegation.

The 26-year-old is set to enter the final 12 months of his contract, and there is no indication that Maddison will agree to an extension.

Newcastle reportedly had a £50m rejected for Maddison last year, but a recent report suggests that a similar offer this summer could be enough to secure his services.

Diaby, meanwhile, has impressed for Bayer Leverkusen this season, scoring 14 goals and providing 10 assists in 41 competitive games to help his side climb to sixth place in the Bundesliga table and reach the semi-finals of the Europa League.

Leverkusen will reportedly consider selling the Frenchman if they receive an offer in excess of £50m for a player that still has two years left to run on his contract.

After thrashing Everton 4-1 on Thursday, Newcastle are currently preparing for Sunday's home meeting with Southampton. body check tags ::