Newcastle United notes: Magpies eye Bruno's old Lyon team-mate, fixture farce and owner's gesture

Newcastle United's name has cropped up in French football again this week - with Jason Denayer of Lyon linked with a move to Tyneside this summer.

The 26-year-old Belgian international, a former team-mate of Bruno Guimaraes at the Ligue 1 club, is available on a free transfer this summer after failing to agree a new deal with OL.

Newcastle are already preparing to raid Ligue 1 for Sven Botman at Lille, after a £50million offer fell through in January, and Denayer also fits the bill.

Having already played and lived in the North-East after a spell at Sunderland in 2017, he likes the area and would be open to a return.

With United also scouting speedy Belgian winger Jeremy Doku the French league could again become a happy hunting ground for the Magpies.

Newcastle have already splashed out £33.5million on Bruno from Lyon and the capture of Denayer for nothing would be some coup.

Eddie Howe said he had to choose his words carefully when asked on the prospect of facing a potential four games in 10 days next month. Howe settled for describing it as "not ideal" when pushed by reporters at his Press conference ahead of the trip to Brentford.

The United manager's comments won't have gone unnoticed by top-flight chiefs but the Magpies have no choice but to get on with things even if it is a harsh schedule.

The Premier League are eager to avoid any type of scenario like 2020 when fixtures were suspended until June after the pandemic. Even if it that is unlikely, there is a determination for the season not to spill over any longer than needed in the eyes of Prem chiefs.

With next season's Premier League programme already being disrupted by the winter World Cup, top-flight chiefs are determined to get next term's start time right -