Newcastle United January transfer deal takes next step as medical underway

Newcastle United full-back Javier Manquillo is undergoing his medical ahead of a move to Celta Vigo.

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 department.

Manquillo's contract is due to expire this summer but the 29-year-old on the verge of ending his seven-year spell at St James' Park six months early by reuniting with former manager Rafa Benitez at Celta Vigo.

A video by Tenias Que Haber Tirado appears to show Manquillo arriving for his medical. The post on X reads: "Javier Manquillo has just arrived at Headquarters to undergo the medical examination. The right-back (29 years old, ) is about to become Celta's second winter signing, from Newcastle."

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 will 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."