Newcastle told to pay £14m for Tottenham winger

The club, which dropped back into the Premier League’s relegation zone last night after Swansea City beat Watford, has been in talks with Tottenham Hotspur over a transfer-window move for the winger.

Townsend will be allowed to leave White Hart Lane this month – but only at the right price.

And Newcastle and Tottenham are understood to be some way apart in their respective valuations of the England international.

Townsend – who fell out of favour at White Hart Lane in early November – needs to be playing week in, week out to have a chance of making Roy Hodgson’s squad for Euro 2016.

The 24-year-old is understood to be interested in a move to St James’s Park.

But United must first agree a fee, and talks with Tottenham – who are unwilling to loan him out at this stage – are ongoing.

Meanwhile, Newcastle have been given a lift after it emerged that new signing Jonjo Shelvey would face no further action for his off-the-ball challenge on Enner Valencia in Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League win over West Ham United.

The incident was not seen by referee Neil Swarbrick, and as such was referred to a panel, who did not believe it deserved a red card.

And Shelvey will be free to line up against Watford, beaten 1-0 at the Liberty Stadium, at Vicarage Road on Saturday.