'Advancing' - Fabrizio Romano confirms Newcastle United talks with Premier League bargain

The Magpies handed a two-year contract to Schar in the summer of 2022 and that was extended by a further year when a one-year option was triggered in January 2023.

Schar is therefore out-of-contract at the end of the current campaign but both the player and head coach Eddie Howe have publicly express their desire to agree a new deal.

"I feel super comfortable at Newcastle, I've been playing for years and I have a coach who backs me," the former Switzerland international said recently. "Everything is right for me. I would love to stay. The club and coach know what they have in me.

"Basically, it's always happened relatively quickly in recent years. The club wanted to keep me, I wanted to stay. That's why it was never a big deal. There are more complicated cases than mine."

Meanwhile, Howe previously told NewcastleWorld: "With Fabian - just speaking from my behalf - he's been incredible for me. I have to say he has been absolutely sensational with some of the performances he's delivered. He's an integral part of what we're doing.

“His use of the ball is well known, his technical qualities and defensively he's been very strong for us. Yes, he's an important player and we'd love to keep him."

Schar is now into the final five months of his contract but transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has claimed talks are “advancing well”.

Romano wrote on X: “Understand Newcastle are stepping up efforts in talks over new deal for Fabian Schar. Negotiations underway and advancing well as Newcastle want to make it happen and keep Schar at the club.”

Schar recently passed 200 appearances for United after joining for just £3million from Deportivo La Coruna in 2018. The 33-year-old has made more appearances than anyone since Howe arrived as head coach in November 2021.

Howe recently admitted Schar was one of the best bargains in Premier League history.

“It’s got to be up there looking at the history of transfers,” he said after the 3-3 draw at Liverpool in December. “Fabian has those midfield qualities at centre-back, he’s got a creative eye. He’s been so important for us in our build-up phases.

“I think I was sitting here the other day and I was asked questions about our attacking output, and I think part of my answer is that everyone has a responsibility to attack, and Fabian really carries that burden.

“But his goal just rounds everything up, it is just a great example of him. How he scored from that angle is beyond me, certainly not something I could do as a centre-back! But he has that technical ability to adapt and he’s scored some wonderful goals for us.”