Out of nowhere, Newcastle are on the brink of a signing.
And it’s a player who hasn’t been linked at all – Nabil Bentaleb. Chronicle writer Lee Ryder broke the news, stating that the Algerian midfielder is set to undergo a medical this afternoon.
It will reportedly be a loan move for the 25-year-old, who hasn’t played a single minute in the Bundesliga for Schalke this season. Bentaleb has just recovered from a torn meniscus, but made a couple of cup appearances before Christmas.
Bentaleb has Premier League experience, having emerged through the ranks at Tottenham Hotspur. He made his debut in December 2013, and interestingly his first professional goal actually came against Newcastle a year later.
The deal has came out of nowhere, a bit like when Jetro Willems was announced last summer.
Bentaleb will certainly add depth to Steve Bruce’s midfield. However, it might take a while to get his match fitness up after making just two appearances all season.
Is this the mystery deal that Newcastle have been working on? Or is an even bigger shock in the pipeline? We will have to wait and see.
But for now, we await confirmation that Bentaleb is a Magpie.
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