Newcastle United 'in discussions' with European club over forgotten former Liverpool man

Newcastle United forgotten man Javier Manquillo is close to leaving St James' Park this month.

The Spaniard hasn't featured for the Magpies this campaign because a groin issue and is currently behind Kieran Trippier, Tino Livramento, Emil Krafth, Dan Burn and Lewis Hall in the full-back area.

Manquillo's contract is due to expire this summer but according to The Athletic, the 29-year-old is set to end his seven-year spell on Tyneside six months early - and reunite with former manager Rafa Benitez at Celta Vigo.

Benitez signed Manquillo as United boss in 2017 from Atletico Madrid following loan spells at Liverpool, Marseille and Sunderland. The defender has gone to make 110 appearances for Newcastle.

Magpies' boss Eddie Howe is keen to bolster his squad in the remaining weeks of the January transfer window but the club must comply with Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). The exit of Manquillo would help free up the wage bill.

United are close to the edge of allowable losses over a three-year period. Howe admitted last week: "In an ideal world, given the freedom to act we would have brought players in already.

"But we're not in that situation - as Darren Eales alluded to on Thursday - Financial Fair Play is a problem for us, and we're having to navigate round that. That's the position we're in. When does it become a problem? It's already one, but we're trying to manage through it."

Meanwhile, club skipper Jamaal Lascelles has been linked with a move to Turkish giants Besiktas. Lascelles too has six months left on his contract.