Newcastle begin scouting Championship transfer targets amid threat of relegation

Newcastle scouts are monitoring Nottingham Forest midfielder Ryan Yates as the club draw up transfer options in the event of relegation.

Newcastle are making a big push in the transfer window to strengthen their side after the club’s £300million Saudi takeover.

But as well as going for signings to bolster their survival bid under Eddie Howe, scouts at the 18th-placed club are also working behind the scenes for the summer.

Among their priorities is assessing potential targets in the event of relegation into the Championship.

Forest midfielder Yates has emerged as a strong possibility after rave reviews this season.

The homegrown star, 24, has impressed with Steve Cooper’s side in their surge up the table.

But the ace only has 18 months left on his contract until next summer after signing a new deal in 2019.

This season he has made 26 League appearances with three goals.

His stock has been rising since Martin O’Neill gave him his breakthrough in 2019 when assistant Roy Keane spotted his potential.

The strapping midfielder has a good engine to go box to box, is decent in the air and strong in the tackle.

On Saturday, Newcastle returned from a training trip to Saudi Arabia and face Everton in their next Premier League game on Tuesday February 8.

Yates is not under consideration for a move this month as Newcastle focus on proven top-flight players.

They have already signed Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood but have been rebuffed by a string of other targets including Ashley Young.

Newcastle do look set to strengthen before the window shuts as midfielder Bruno Guimaraes has passed his medical ahead of a £30million move.

A Magpies contingent - including head of recruitment Steve Nickson - travelled to Brazil to complete