GETTY West Ham and Crystal Palace are interested in signing Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic

The Serb striker, 22, has scored five times this season for Rafael Benitez’s Championship pacesetters but is still unable to command a regular place at St James' Park. That has alerted Premier League strugglers Palace and West Ham, who are both desperate to boost their firepower going into the second half of the campaign. Unsettled Liverpool ace Daniel Sturridge would be the first choice for the London rivals but Kop boss Jurgen Klopp seems adamant the England international will not be leaving in the January window.

GETTY Mitrovic celebrates scoring one of his five goals this season against Preston

Newcastle chief Benitez feels much the same way about losing Mitrovic next month - with his club well placed to seal an immediate return to the Premier League. However, with top scorer Dwight Gayle usually ahead in Benitez’s pecking order, any offer matching the £14.5million Mitrovic cost from Anderlecht 18 months ago would be tempting. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, are weighing up a loan swoop for another Serb - Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

GETTY Crystal Palace are also interested in securing a loan deal for Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic