Newcastle United are exploring a late move for Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge due to Jonjo Shelvey's move to Nottingham Forest. The Magpies thought they would be in for a quiet end to the month after signing Anthony Gordon over the weekend but are expected to try and bring in a central midfielder before Tuesday's deadline.
Shelvey has told Newcastle boss Eddie Howe he wants to join Nottingham Forest this week rather than running his contract down on Tyneside between now and the summer. The 30-year-old will become Steve Cooper's 25th signing at the City Ground this season.
As such, Newcastle now need another body in the middle of the park and have identified Berge as one of their targets as Sheffield United try and escape a potential transfer embargo. The Championship promotion hopefuls have 30 days to extricate themselves from the financial difficulty they find themselves in or will not be allowed to bring in any new signings for the next 12 months.
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Berge has attracted interest in the last few days but Newcastle could miss out due to the fact they want a loan deal first, rather than a permanent switch. The Magpies are ready to include an obligation to buy clause in any loan switch but face being snubbed in favour of Premier League rivals being able to stump up cash here and now.
Fulham have already held talks with the player, while Liverpool and Arsenal have registered an interest in recent weeks. Newcastle want to try and save their cash for the summer when a squad overhaul is likely to take place.
"There’s no guarantee, as I’ve said with other transfers," Howe said on Friday. "We’ll try, and we’ll see what we can do, but, in terms of permanent signings, that would be very difficult.
"We’ll look for, potentially, a loan situation, but it’s got to be the right player. We don’t just want to take any player.”
Berge didn't feature for Sheffield United as they drew 3-3 with Wrexham in the FA Cup on Sunday. Speaking after the game, Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom admitted the Norwegian wasn't being risked ahead of transfer deadline day.
"Sander is fine, he wants to stay, he's fine. The clubs could be discussing a fee for Sander and he might want to stay. He wanted to play today but it's a club decision to protect that asset," he said. "I am not going to say I agree with it but I understand it. I pulled him out on Saturday. I am not daft enough to know it may happen he was coming and was ready to travel.
"It would be massively disappointing to lose him but we are in an embargo and we have financial problems. One way to get out of that and raise money is selling players. I don't want that but we are prepared for that if it happens."
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