Newcastle are hopeful of signing Dean Henderson on loan from Manchester United until the end of the season before Monday's transfer deadline.
Sources say a move has not been finalised but work is progressing on a deal that would see Newcastle cover Henderson's £110,000 weekly wages and pay a loan fee.
Newcastle were prepared to sign Henderson on a permanent basis if they could have also negotiated a loan move for his United teammate Jesse Lingard. A Premier League club is only allowed to loan in one player from another Premier League club.
If Henderson joins Newcastle on loan it would end the club's pursuit of Lingard, whose loan move to Newcastle collapsed last week when United insisted on a survival bonus.
Newcastle are 18th in the Premier League and are owned by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund. They have already spent a combined £37million on Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood this month.
Although Newcastle have Martin Dubrabvka, Karl Darlow and Freddie Woodman in their goalkeeping department, manager Eddie Howe is dissatisfied with the standard and only Norwich have conceded more goals than Newcastle this season.
Dubravka regained his No.1 status in November after Woodman started the first four games of the season while the Slovak was injured and Darlow laid low by Covid-19.
It is unclear if United would make an 11th hour move for a back-up goalkeeper, with Tom Heaton poised to become the second choice if Henderson goes.
Heaton, 35, rejoined United in the summer under the assumption one of Henderson or David de Gea would leave. Henderson was pencilled in to start the season as United's first-choice but contracted Covid in the first week of pre-season in July and was not available again until mid-September. De Gea has improved immeasurably and is widely regarded as United's player of the season so far.
Lee Grant, 38, is United's fourth-choice 'keeper while Nathan Bishop is on loan at League Two side Mansfield Town.
United academy graduate Henderson made 25 starts for United last term and assumed the No.1 role in March but has dropped out of the England squad this season and is prepared to leave the club permanently.
Donny van de Beek is also on the verge of joining Everton on loan for the remainder of the season. The Manchester Evening News revealed on Saturday three clubs had provisionally agreed loan terms with Van de Beek and he has chosen to join Everton, who came close to signing the Dutchman on deadline day in August.
