Newcastle have it all in their own hands should they wish to sign Jesse Lingard from Manchester United on deadline day.
The Club have already agreed personal terms with the midfielder after successful negotiations on Sunday, and have just received another boost in their pursuit of the 29-year-old.
According to The Athletic, Red Devils boss Ralf Rangnick has now given Lingard his blessing to leave on loan, after he had expressed his desire to move away from Old Trafford this month in search of regular first team football.
Lingard's current United deal expires in the summer and he had already turned down a new offer from the club towards the end of last year.
And now all that remains for Lingard's loan deal to be completed is successful negotiations between both clubs, which have stalled as of late due to United's strict demands for letting their player leave.
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However, Newcastle are expected to finally bite the bullet and agree to Manchester United ’s terms should they wish to sign Lingard today.
The Magpies have been strongly linked with a move for the midfielder throughout the January transfer window but a deal has been stalled over the past week after the Red Devils wanted the Magpies to pay a loan fee, cover the whole cost of the 29-year-old’s £100k-a-week wages and provide a bonus payment should Lingard help the Magpies to stay up.
But with Lingard already agreeing personal terms and keen on a move, as well as the clock ticking on deadline day, Newcastle are poised to agree to these terms in order to get their man, according to the Express.
The 29-year-old proved his worth with a remarkable loan spell at West Ham United during the second half of last season, with nine goals and five assists in 16 Premier League games helping the Hammers achieve European football.
And David Moyes has also expressed his desire to bring Lingard back to east London this month.
The Hammers have rivalled the Magpies for his signing and have today returned with an improved offer to bring him to the London Stadium on a permanent deal.
But it has been claimed that United have already refused to let Lingard re-join West Ham in order to avoid boosting the options of a top four rival.
So it really is now down to Newcastle to play ball and get this deal over the line in the remaining hours of deadline day.
And with the impact he had at West Ham last season, along with Newcastle needing to stay up at all costs this campaign, Howe, Stavely and co can surely see that this is a deal worth making.
