Nottingham Forest are poised to sign Jonjo Shelvey from Newcastle United before the January transfer window closes.
Reds boss Steve Cooper confirmed the midfielder has had a medical and it is widely reported he will sign a two-and-a-half year contract.
Ahead of the move to the City Ground, Chronicle Live's Newcastle United editor Aaron Stokes spoke to the Garibaldi Red podcast to give his thoughts on the player. You can listen to the podcast here, or watch it here.
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What is your take on the deal after Eddie Howe heaped praise on Shelvey ahead of his exit?
"Newcastle fans are split. Some think it's a very good deal and the right time to move on. Some have grown very attached to him in the last seven or eight years.
"The thing I would say is, he has really improved under Eddie Howe. A lot of us were taken by surprise that they are going to let him go. By the sounds of it, from what Howe was saying, it's the the player's decision and he really wants to go to Forest.
"He's had chances to move in the past but he hasn't felt it was the right move. Forest are clearly offering security he doesn't have at Newcastle. Personally I'm sad to see him go. On his day he's a fantastic midfielder."
What kind of midfielder is Shelvey?
"In the games where Forest will dominate the ball, that's where Forest will come into their own. His range of passing is fantastic. Should Forest drop into the Championship they've got a fantastic player. That was when he had his best season.
"You need a midfielder alongside him to do the dirty work. He had a great partnership with Isaac Hayden for years because Shelvey picks out a Hollywood pass but Hayden did all the grafting. It wouldn't have worked without him alongside him.
"He's changed in that sense in the last year or so. He was never a good trainer but maybe that was because Steve Bruce didn't make the players train a lot. Since Eddie Howe came in he's put the hard yards in on the training ground.
"He went to Turkey in the summer to work on his fitness just before he got injured. He's realised he has to work. You have to hope Cooper isn't a Bruce and he makes him work hard."
He's only played five times this season and has struggled with injuries in the last couple of seasons. Is that a worry?
"Potentially. Over the summer he went to Turkey to do a heavy training programme. He looked the sharpest he had done in years in pre-season but picked up an unfortunate hamstring injury.
"That essentially ended his Newcastle career because he only needed two or three more starts to trigger a contract extension. He worked his way back to fitness but has a separate injury which will keep out for about two more weeks.
"If you can keep him fit you're getting a fantastic signing. He will fit in well and he's a senior member of the dressing room who is loved by Eddie Howe. He's not getting any younger though. Two injuries in six months, you would have to have a bit of hesitation around him helping Forest straight away."
Would Shelvey be a good signing? Have your say in the comments section below
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