Transfer insider: NUFC now 'ready' to 'finalise deals' for three stars; more to come in summer

Newcastle United are reportedly now ‘ready’ to ‘finalise deals’ for three players ahead of the summer transfer window.

Sky Sports journalist and North East reporter Keith Downie has said that the St. James’ Park faithful will now look to make at least five major signings in the summer.

As well as a permanent deal for Aston Villa left-back Matt Targett, they are also looking at signing a new central defender, playmaking forward, striker and goalkeeper, and could add even more to that list if departures create openings in the squad.

Taking to Twitter, transfer insider Graeme Bailey has revealed that the Tyneside outfit are now ‘ready to press ahead’ with transfer plans that were ‘set in motion’ in the January window, and will look to ‘finalise deals’ for Targett, Jesse Lingard of Manchester United and Hugo Ekitike of Reims.

Expanding in his article for 90min, the journalist also revealed that they have ‘enquired’ about the possibility of signing Dean Henderson from Manchester United or Bernd Leno of Arsenal, while they are looking at Sevilla’s Diego Carlos and AFC Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly to strengthen the centre of defence.

These are exciting times for the Toon Army as their summer transfer plans already seem to be in motion, and it looks as if they could make at least five major signings by the end of the window.

The names that Bailey has mentioned fit into each position reported by Downie and the new owners may not stop there if they can ship out some of the fringe players at the club too.

Nonetheless, with Premier League safety all but guaranteed, they can now look forward to the next stage of the project, and fans should be delighted to see they aren’t hanging around after the naturally rushed nature of the January