There is reportedly a very good chance that Chris Wood‘s loan move from Newcastle United to Nottingham Forest will become permanent in the summer.
That is according to Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie, who believes that the 31-year-old is ‘very likely’ to meet the conditions required for the transfer to become a permanent one.
The 31-year-old is on the brink of a move away from St James’ Park. It was first reported on Tuesday by The Times that Wood was closing in on a loan move to Forest.
Now the deal appears to be all but official, with Eddie Howe confirming that the New Zealander is now having a medical ahead the deal.
£15m summer move to Nottingham Forest on the cards for Chris Wood
The loan move includes an obligation for Steve Cooper’s side to make the transfer permanent if certain clauses are met. A future fee of £15million has been agreed, and Keith Downie believes that Forest are very likely going to have to pay it.
He tweeted: “Understand Chris Wood is very likely to meet the the conditions of his loan agreement with Not’m Forest. So he looks to have played his last game for NUFC. The striker will also have further security by signing a Forest contract that’s longer than his Newcastle one.”
As well as a future fee of £15million, Forest are also paying a loan fee to sign Wood for the rest of the season. Given that we paid £25million for him last year, this looks like a brilliant bit of business by Dan Ashworth.
However, it also means that we will probably never see Wood wear a Newcastle shirt ever again.
Wood’s Newcastle career looks to be over
With the loan move set to be completed and a future transfer likely to be activated, it means that Wood’s Newcastle career is over.
It only began a year ago, when the Magpies activated a £25million release clause to sign him from Burnley. It was a needs-must signing, with Howe desperate for a striker.
Wood stepped up and delivered, and played a key role in Newcastle achieving survival – even if the goals did not flow as expected.
He became a focal point for this Newcastle side, and led the line expertly in the absence of Callum Wilson.
His impact continued this season too, despite the arrival of Alexander Isak. Wood has played in every Newcastle this season bar two, proving just how much Howe has had to lean on the forward.
Wood’s final appearance was a late cameo off the bench in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Fulham. A move did not appear to be on the cards at that stage, but now it will serve as his goodbye to St James’ Park.
A record of five goals in 39 appearances does not sound impressive, but Wood brought much more than goals to this Newcastle team. His role will be remembered in years to come, after he took the plunge to join Newcastle at a time when many others wouldn’t.
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