Arsenal have agreed to send centre-back Rob Holding on loan to Newcastle United, with the deal set to be completed this week, talkSPORT has been told.
Holding, 24, started in Saturday’s Community Shield triumph against Liverpool, and impressed as he helped to keep kept Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino quiet at Wembley.
His strong performance would have given many fans some food for thought ahead of the new season after making just 18 first-team appearances last term.
However, the imminent arrival of 22-year-old defender Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille means Holding game time will be even more limited if he stays at the Emirates Stadium.
And talkSPORT transfer guru Alex Crook believes he is close to sealing a move to St James’ Park, with a loan deal set to be confirmed in the coming days.
Crook also provided an update on the future of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who has also been linked with a move to Newcastle, while Wolves have had a bid rejected.
“I thought Rob Holding was particularly good at Wembley, which is a strange one because I’m told he’s going to join Newcastle on loan this week,” Crook said on Monday’s talkSPORT Breakfast.
“Another player who possibly could be on his way out is Ainsley Maitland-Niles
“Wolves have had one bid of £15m rejected but they’re expected to come back in, with Arsenal are looking in the region f 25m
“Although it’s said Arsenal may reconsider their plans to sell Maitland-Niles and the club could actually hang onto him.”
Holding’s arrival would be a big boost to Newcastle manager Steve Bruce’s centre-back options going into the new Premier League season, with the Magpies kicking off the campaign against West Ham on September 12.
Club captain Jamaal Lascelles is still recovering from an ankle injury, and so Federico Fernandez and Ciaran Clark started in central defence in Newcastle’s 2-1 friendly win over Barnsley on Saturday.
They were later replaced by Florian Lejeune and right-back DeAndre Yedlin, which highlighted Bruce’s lack of options at the back as he prepares for the 2020/21 campaign.
If the loan is completed Holding would follow midfielder Jeff Hendrick through the door at St James’ Park, after the Republic of Ireland international signed for the Magpies earlier this month on a free transfer after his Burnley contract expired.