Sky Sports: Newcastle now 'close' to signing striker ahead of Borussia Dortmund and Celtic

Newcastle's bid to bring top young talent to Tyneside looks set to continue in January, with Garang Kuol set to become the latest name to sign at St James' Park.

As revealed by Sky Sports this morning, Newcastle are 'close' to finalising a deal for the Central Coast Mariners striker.

Keith Downie reports that we've fended off interest from Borussia Dortmund and Celtic for the 18-year-old talent, who's scored an impressive four goals in 145 minutes of A-League action so far this season.

Newcastle are believed to be 'exploring ways of overcoming any work permit issues', with one solution being a potential January loan move to a European club once he's put pen to paper on Tyneside.

Kuol made his debut for the Australian national team over the weekend and made an instant impact, impressing as a late substitute in a 2-0 win over Chris Wood's New Zealand.

So, another promising teenager on his way to Newcastle, it seems, with the Dan Ashworth effect now in full flow as we look to recruit some of the best young talent around the globe.

Here's what Keith Downie had to say in his latest update on the deal: