St James's Park, the home of Newcastle United Football Club. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)St James's Park, the home of Newcastle United Football Club. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
St James's Park, the home of Newcastle United Football Club. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Newcastle United linked with £10m deal as ex-Arsenal star urges Magpies to swoop for key Rangers man

Newcastle United are closing in on a surprise signing outside of the transfer window.

Matthew Bondswell, released by RB Leipzig inside the January market is, according to the Daily Telegraph, set to sign for the Magpies and team up with Chris Hogg’s under-23s.

Because of the timing of his release, the 18-year-old left-back could theoretically be involved in United’s Premier League run-in, if he impresses, of course.

Bondswell’s season-long loan at Dutch side FC Dordrecht was cut short at the halfway point in order to negotiate his exit from the Bundesliga club and find a suitor in England.

Early reports suggest it is a decent coup for Newcastle after beating Leeds United and West Ham United to the former Nottingham Forest youth product’s signature.

Meanwhile, United are one of a number of clubs credited with interest in Celtic defender Jack Hendry.

As reported by 90min, a summer deal is slightly complicated but not entirely impossible.

Hendry is on loan at Belgian club KV Oostende, who have an option to buy the Scotland international at the end of the season for around £2million.

Effectively, Oostende can then sell for a quick profit with £10m the rumoured asking price – money Celtic would not see.

It is claimed Aston Villa, Brighton and Wolves are keen while the Magpies, Leicester, West Ham and Crystal Palace have kept tabs on his progress.

Oostende are fully aware of the emerging interest. In an ideal world, they would prefer to keep him but are open to the idea of cashing in immediately.

French club Amiens did the same when United signed Emil Krafth in 2020. He was bought for around £1.7m then sold to St James’s Park for £5m.

Here are the latest transfer headlines from Newcastle and their Premier League rivals: