Newcastle United set to conclude transfer deal ‘as early as Monday’

Newcastle United new-boy Garang Kuol is on the verge of joining Scottish Premier League club Hearts on loan - according to reports in Australia.

The 18-year-old agreed to join United earlier this season after they agreed a fee of around £350,000 for the Central Coast Mariners prospect. Kuol officially became a Magpies player last week as Eddie Howe indicated his progression would be aided by a loan move elsewhere.

Championship club Reading were believed to have shown an interest but Kuol was pictured at Hearts’ training ground alongside his agent and Magpies loan manager Shola Ameobi on Thursday.

Manager Robbie Nielson openly discussed a loan move for the youngster, saying: “He’s a player we’re interested in so he came up for a look around with his agent. He’s got a number of clubs that are very interested in him. He’s a huge prospect. He’s one we’ve known about for quite a long time because he comes from the same team as Kye Rowles was at.

“The opportunity came to speak to him so we brought him up and we’ll see where it goes. It’s still at the very early stages. It will depend what other clubs are in for him,’ he said. We’d love to get him here but we’ll just have to wait and see because he’s an 18-year-old who has been playing at the World Cup so I’m sure there will be a lot of suitors.”

Australian outlet Keep Up have reported Hearts have now ‘moved into pole position’ in the race to sign Kuol and suggest a deal could be completed as early as Monday evening. If a deal is completed over the coming days, Kuol could make his Jam Tarts debut in Friday night’s SPL home game against St Mirren.