Apparently Magpies officials travelled to Spain to discuss a £7.5million transfer for the 27-year-old but the deal was snubbed.
"We have had a week where we have tried to sign a couple of quality players and it has not happened," Souness said. "But we have still a bit of time left in the transfer window. The two players we have gone after this week are top players and that is the only kind of player I am interested in bringing to this club.
"We are in the market for players," he said. "Whether they remain targets or not I think we should keep to ourselves."