Newcastle United ‘set’ to hold talks over potential late transfer

Trabzonspor have opened talks with Newcastle United over signing Jamal Lewis on loan, according to reports in Turkey.

The 24-year-old is facing the prospect of not playing again this season following strong reports that he will be left out of the club’s 25-man Premier League squad.

Eddie Howe must cut three players from the squad that was named in August after the January arrivals of Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood, Bruno Guimaraes, Matt Targett and Dan Burn.

Indeed, it is Targett’s loan move from Aston Villa that has pushed Lewis down the pecking order, while Burn can also play at left-back.

Lewis has reportedly already turned down a loan exit

Jeff Hendrick and Freddie Woodman sealed deadline day loans to Queens Park Rangers and Bournemouth, respectively, and it’s been widely reported that Ciaran Clark and Lewis will also be removed from the squad.

It is understood Clark and Lewis had the opportunity to go out on loan on Monday, the former Middlesbrough and the latter Birmingham City - but both moves were declined.

Turkish journalist Yagız Sabuncuoglu claims Trabzonspor have registered an interest in Lewis, with discussions now set to take place.

The transfer market in Turkey doesn’t shut until Tuesday, February 8 - the day the Magpies take on Everton at St James’ Park.

What’s happened to Jamal Lewis at Newcastle?

When Lewis arrived from Norwich City for £15million in September 2020, it went down as a huge coup given the left-back had weeks earlier been chased by Liverpool.

But since the start of 2021, Lewis has barely kicked a ball for Newcastle United.

Steve Bruce overlooked the defender so much that he went from February to November without starting a Premier League game.

Eddie Howe reinstated Lewis into the starting XI but on his fourth consecutive start, Lewis injured his hamstring in the 3-1 defeat at Anfield in December.

Fit-again, Lewis’ omission from the 25-man squad will come as a surprise to some as it felt the player was building up ahead of steam before his injury.

But clearly, Howe favours loan signing Targett, Villa’s player of the year last season, and has decided Lewis is the man that should make way.