'Bigger than Sunderland' – Newcastle United fans react to former Tottenham Hostpur midfielder Nabil Bentaleb joining on loan from Shalke

Newcastle United have secured their first signing of the 2020 January transfer window as midfielder Nabil Bentaleb joins on loan from Shalke until the end of the season.

By Dominic Scurr

Published 21st Jan 2020, 16:45 BST

Updated 21st Jan 2020, 18:32 BST

Schalke's Algerian midfielder Nabil Bentaleb kicks the ball to score during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Schalke 04 and Manchester City on February 20, 2019 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)

The Algerian international joins the Magpies initially on loan with an option to buy for a fee believed to be in the region of £8.5m at the end of the season.

Bentaleb is no stranger to the Premier League having made 66 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur between 2013 and 2016 before joining Shalke in the Bundesliga.

The 25-year-old’s only goal in English football came against Newcastle in a 4-0 League Cup quarter final thrashing at White Hart Lane in December 2014. Scroll down to see how Newcastle fans reacted to the latest transfer news...