It’s decision time for Newcastle United on Nabil Bentaleb – as Matty Longstaff weighs up his options.

Bentaleb, signed on loan from Schalke 04 in January, has been a regular starter for Steve Bruce since the Premier League restarted last month.

And Bild report that the club must make a decision on a permanent £9million move for the 25-year-old midfielder by Monday.

Bentaleb – who hadn’t played a competitive game for nine months before his move to St James’s Park after a fall-out at Schalke – is understood to be on around £80,000 a week at the Bundesliga club.

placeholder image — Nabil Bentaleb. (Pic: Martin Swinney)

The situation is complicated by the proposed Newcastle takeover, and the club is unlikely to make any big financial commitments while the Premier League is still considering the £300million deal.

Speaking last week, Bruce said: "We have to have negotiations with their clubs to see where they are at, what they want. I don't think we’ll have everything sorted by next week. I have an idea in my own mind – it doesn't always turn out how you want. There are some big meetings over the next week – and into the summer.”

Meanwhile, Bruce wants a decision from 20-year-old midfielder Longstaff, who has been offered a new long-term deal at the club with his contract expiring at the end of the campaign.

“We’ve done everything we can to keep him here – it’s up to him now,” said United’s head coach.

Longstaff – who is wanted by Udinese – hasn’t started a Premier League game since Bentaleb joined the club.