Newcastle United close in on second summer signing as winger heads to Bundesliga

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 29: Jamaal Lascelles of Newcastle United vies with Jeff Hendrick of Burnley during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Burnley FC at St. James Park on February 29, 2020 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Newcastle United are close to announcing their second summer signing with Republic of Ireland international Jeff Hendrick on Tyneside to complete the formalities of his free transfer switch.

The Burnley midfielder was released from his Clarets deal this summer, after a four-year stint at Turf Moor – and United are thought to have beaten the likes of Everton to the former Derby County man’s signature.

Hendrick is likely to provide midfield competition for the likes of Isaac Hayden, Sean Longstaff and Jonjo Shelvey, while a new deal for Matty Longstaff is yet to be 100% ruled out this summer.

Talk of revisiting a deal for loan man Nabil Bentaleb on a permanent basis has cooled recently with the player on between £80,000 and £90,000 per week at Schalke.

Meanwhile, Valentino Lazaro has returned to the Bundesliga with Borussia Monchengladbach after an unsuccessful loan spell at United.