Newcastle United transfer news: Magpies star wants new two-year contract as West Ham and Everton eye ex-Toon youngster

The Switzerland international was stretchered off in the 3-2 victory over Southampton on Saturday – which has left the Magpies without any fit recognised central defenders.

Schar was the only fit centre-back to feature against the Saints and his injury left his teammates to play the final 12 minutes with nine men following Jeff Hendrick’s earlier red card.

Ciaran Clark was unavailable due to the imminent birth of his child, while Jamaal Lascelles and Federico Fernandez remained sidelined.

Now, with Chelsea next up a week today, Steve Bruce could be forced to call upon Isaac Hayden and Paul Dummett to form an unlikely partnership.

Speculation surrounded Fernandez over the weekend, though that was regarding his future rather than further injury misery.

According to The Sun, Newcastle plan to offer the former Argentina international a new one-year contract with his current one set to expire this summer – but there is a potential stumbling block.

Fernandez wants a two-year extension to keep him at St James’s Park until he is 34 and would be willing to join another Premier League club if an agreement cannot be reached.

The 31-year-old has become a regular under Bruce and had missed just one of United’s league games before his injury, which has forced him out of the club’s last six games.

Meanwhile, a former United youngster is linked with a move back to the top-flight.

Here’s a round-up of the latest gossip doing the rounds across the Premier League: