OPINION
Championship side Wolves are reportedly in talks with Newcastle midfielder Jack Colback over a loan move to the Midlands outfit.
The Daily Mail claim the 27-year-old is looking to leave the club after falling out with manager Rafa Benitez and becoming surplus to requirements at St. James’ Park.
It is said that Leonid Slutsky’s Hull City are also interested in a move and had been talking to the player, but Colback is more enthused by the ambition of Wolves’ future plans as they look to gain promotion this season.
The former Sunderland midfielder was key in the Toon’s 2016-17 campaign that saw them achieve promotion from the Championship back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
Good move for Newcastle?
The Toon would rather sell their midfielder in order to raise cash for incoming transfers, but with less than two days remaining in the current transfer window, a permanent move is becoming less likely.
Allowing Colback to leave would still see his pay cheque disappear from the Toon wage bill, and that could give Benitez more manoeuvrability in the transfer market over the next 48 hours.
Although it is not the perfect scenario for the Magpies, getting him off the books now rather than cutting a frustrated figure and proving detrimental to the Newcastle dressing room is key. A loan should materialise.
This Is Futbol rating: 6/10.
Likely to happen?
Colback’s future on Tyneside is in no uncertain terms over, after the north east outfit completed the signing of Borussia Dortmund ace Mikel Merino on a season-long loan.
It has seen Colback plummet down the pecking order, with Jonjo Shelvey, Isaac Hayden and Mo Diame all ahead of him in Benitez’s midfield rankings.
It appears that Newcastle are willing to offload him on loan before the end of the transfer window, with Colback keen to be a part of an exciting Wolves side that have taken 10 points from five games and sit fourth in the Championship.
Colback is likely to move on then, with Wolves sitting in pole position to land the midfielder.
This Is Futbol rating: 10/10.