Kyle Healy-Matthews set to sign for Newcastle United - Exclusive story confirmed

Newcastle United are closing in on another summer signing following on from the acquisition of Ewen Jaouen.

Ross Wilson got off to a flying start this summer by getting shot of Anthony Gordon swiftly and bringing in young goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen, but that feels like months ago now with nothing but negativity ever since.

Our two biggest stars are being persistently linked with moves away, and what looked like a nailed-on signing slipped through our fingers. It's hardly been inspiring.

There does finally appear to be a new player heading to St James' Park, though, albeit a youngster who will be destined for the development squad rather than having any impact on the first team.

As NUFCBlog exclusively revealed earlier this month, Newcastle have won the race to sign Kyle Healy-Matthews.

Newcastle will sign Kyle Healy-Matthews from West Ham

The Chronicle has now confirmed that Magpies are close to completing the signing of full-back Kyle Healy-Matthews from West Ham United, pending Premier League approval.

The 16-year-old has been up in Tyneside to put the finishing touches on the deal, though The Chronicle claims that the Premier League's process could still take a couple of weeks.

Healy-Matthews will sign as a first-year scholar, but it's expected he will be handed a professional deal once he turns 17 later this year.

Healy-Matthews follows in the footsteps of Harrison Ashby

Newcastle had a big clearout of their academy this summer, so it's expected Healy-Matthews will not be the last young face brought into the club.

This isn't the first young full-back Newcastle have signed from West Ham. Harrison Ashby was brought in by Dan Ashworth early on after the takeover, and while he's still at the club, his future doesn't look particularly bright if he remains in the north east.

Let's hope that Healy-Matthews' progression is better than that of Ashby, who arrived at Newcastle with a heap of promise that was never realised.