Sky Sports: Newcastle sanction loan-to-buy deal - A clear sign Howe has a replacement lined up?
Sky Sports have confirmed that Chris Wood is closing in on a loan move to Nottingham Forest that includes an option to buy at the end of the season.
The Times revealed on Wednesday afternoon that the 31-year-old had been targeted by the Reds - who have lost summer signing Taiwo Awoniyi for two months following a groin injury.
Now, both The Athletic and Sky Sports have backed up those claims, with the latter revealing that Forest are in talks to include an 'option to buy' clause that would come into play this summer.
Howe recently talked up the 'massive' role Woo had to play in the squad, praising his ability to step in and do a job for the team when needed. With that in mind, it feels like we'll only be letting him go on the basis we have a replacement lined up.
Let's face it, we have an injury prone striker in Callum Wilson and a player who hasn't long returned from over three months out in Alexander Isak. Therefore, I am quite sure we'll have only sanctioned the Kiwi's move to the City Ground because we have something in the pipeline ourselves.
Speaking on the Transfer Show, here's what Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has had to say on the potential deal:
"I'm told that this is really close to happening.
"This could be a clever deal for Newcastle as if he does well at Nottingham Forest, they might want that option to buy. If they don't stay in the Premier League, but he still plays quite well, then his market value will still be quite high.
"If you remember, this time last year he signed a two-and-a-half year contract joining from Burnley. They spent £20-25m on him, they would want to recoup some of that money back. They think this is the best way to do that,
"He has only started four Premier League games and Alexander Isak is back to compete with Callum Wilson up front."
