Newcastle have already lost their top scorer, and now they could likely have to do without their best defender, with Fabricio Coloccini looking to move to San Lorenzo, according to his father.

Coloccini was one of the standout players for Newcastle last season, on their way to a brilliant fifth-place finish in the English Premier League.

The Argentine center-back has not been at his usual best this season, with some niggling injuries and suspensions curtailing the consistency that was so evident last campaign.

There were also reports of the 30-year-old having disagreements with manager Alan Pardew, which the boss himself admitted to, but played down.

Newcastle are desperately struggling in the Premier League this season, and lie just two points away from the drop zone. Pardew is on the verge of completing the signing of Mathieu Debuchy, with Marseille forward Loic Remy also reportedly close to agreeing a switch.

While Coloccini is unlikely to move in the January transfer window, it is looking increasingly likely that the classy defender could be on his way out of St James' Park in the summer, with the Argentine looking to find an "elegant way" to leave.

"Fabricio wants to play for San Lorenzo and he is trying his best to find an elegant way to leave Newcastle," Coloccini's father Osvaldo, who is the youth team director at San Lorenzo, told Indirecto on TyC Sports.

"We don't know what Newcastle will come up with, but Fabricio is trying to rescind his contract because he wants to be back at San Lorenzo.

"His contract is very good and that could complicate things in an attempt for him to leave Newcastle."

Another player on his way out of his club could be Joleon Lescott. The Manchester City defender is currently the fourth-choice centerback of Roberto Mancini, with the Italian preferring Vicnent Kompany, Matija Nastasic and Kolo Toure to the England international.

That has led to suggestions Lescott could be on his way out of the Etihad, with former club Everton though to be the leading contenders.

Now Aston Villa have also joined the race for the 30-year-old, according to the Daily Mirror, with Paul Lambert looking to tighten his extremely leaky defense.

The main aspect that would stall a move for Lescott to Villa would be the defender's wages. If at all a move was to materialize, Lescott would have to take a pay cut and possibly negotiate a payoff with City.

Another problem would be the fact that Mancini is not keen to let go of his player, despite rarely using him this season. Toure is expected to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations this month, leaving City thin on options at the heart of the defense.