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Newcastle United are understood to have begun the process of offloading Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.

But the Magpies are also believed to be working hard behind the scenes and hoping to unveil a new face before the World Cup kicks off.

United are eager to maintain their stringent business process this summer and that is likely to result in the man they paid £8.5m for just 18 months ago being moved on. The defender was signed from Montpellier after captaining the Ligue 1 side to the title.

However, it has been a disastrous switch to St James’ for the 25-year-old.

Since signing for United, Yanga-Mbiwa has failed to convince Alan Pardew he can cut it in the Premier League, but he will argue he has also been played out of position at times.

His poor form has culminated in him losing his place in the French national side and missing the World Cup finals.

Now sources in France say that he has been offered to a host of Ligue 1 sides including Lille, Marseille and Bordeaux.

Despite some horrific defensive displays last term, Newcastle are probably going to stick with Fabricio Coloccini,Mike Williamson and Steven Taylor as their three centre-backs, while more progress will be expected from Remie Streete.

United are believed to be one of a host of Premier League clubs that have been offered the services of free agent Joleon Lescott, but at 31 after being released by Manchester City he does not fit in with the club’s blueprint of signing younger players and moving them on for a profit.

Yet the defence is not a priority this summer.

Instead other areas of Pardew’s squad are being worked on, with Tenerife striker Ayoze Perez understood to be close to agreeing a move to Tyneside.

The 20-year-old would start the season on the fringes at United and have to prove himself in the development team first.

United have been linked with out-of-contract striker Nicklas Bendtner. But it emerged yesterday that Newcastle aren’t in contention to bring the 6ft 4in striker to Tyneside after he was released by Arsenal.