It is still early on summer transfer deadline day in the Premier League, and although Newcastle are rumoured to be hoping for an incoming player or two, it is outgoings that may dominate the agenda.
Already we have reports that Jacob Murphy is on his way to Hillsborough for a medical at Sheffield Wednesday ahead of a season-long loan.
While the Chronicle report that Achraf Lazaar is heading to Italy for talks with Serie A sides to try to secure a long-awaited deal away from St James’ Park.
Both players need to leave, with neither expected to get much – if any – game time this season, and may have been set to be left out of the 25-man Premier League squad.
A move to the Owls for Murphy could help him regain confidence that he has lacked at Newcastle, and his half-season loan at West Brom failed to see him grow.
Achraf Lazaar needs to follow Murphy through the St James’ Park exit door
Lazaar seems to have hung around at Newcastle for an eternity without ever looking like he would make the grade in the senior squad.
Ironically, he had a successful loan at Sheffield Wednesday during the second half of last season, and it is something of a surprise that the Yorkshire side have opted for Murphy and not Lazaar – or even Rolando Aarons who was also their last season.
Wages may have something to do with why Lazaar and Aarons are struggling to find a move somewhere else, although Aarons still harbours hopes of making it into Steve Bruce’s plans this season.
But it is Murphy that looks to be the first one of the fringe players out of the door today, and Lazaar, Jack Colback, Henri Saivet and Rolando Aarons could well follow him.
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