Newcastle United transfer news: Magpies to set battle for highly-rated international defender

As things stand, Newcastle in 15th place, a solid eight points clear of the dreaded relegation zone, with six games of their season left to play, and they also have the added bonus of a game in hand over 18th place strugglers Fulham.

Speaking ahead of the weekend's action, Magpies midfielder Jonjo Shelvey hit back at suggestions that he's a "lazy" player, and contended: “I think I give off this impression with my body language by the way I run or the way I am. I’m quite a laid back character.

“It might look like that but the stats say different and as long as I’m doing it and it’s being recorded and everything is monitored – you can’t get away with not running.”

He continued: “I know it might not seem like I’m not running or I’m lazy or whatever but the stats are saying different, so I’m just going to continue to do what I’m doing.

“If I’m going to be honest, I’d take not running at all and win the game comfortably – keep the ball and play possession football but you can’t get away with anything these days.

“You need to roll your sleeves up and run and I feel like that’s what the stats say I’m doing. As long as the stats say I’m doing it, the proof is there in writing.”

Here are today's biggest transfer stories and the latest team news involving Newcastle United and the rest of the Premier League, as the build-up to this weekend's action continues: