A CLUTCH of Championship clubs are ready to offer Yoan Gouffran a chance to leave Newcastle United before the end of the year.

The Frenchman has found himself out of favour since Steve McClaren’s arrival at St James’ Park and he could have left before last week’s transfer deadline.

A failure to secure a move away from Tyneside during the summer transfer window, however, has left Gouffran facing up to the prospect of spending the rest of 2015 on the fringes at St James’ Park.

And the 29-year-old, who still has two seasons to run on his contract, will be given the opportunity to head out on loan, albeit in the Football League.

Hull City and Nottingham Forest are known to be two of the clubs most interested in him, while Middlesbrough have been offered the chance to sign him.

Boro’s successful £2.6m move for Uruguayan winger Carlos de Pena last week, though, has reduced the need for Aitor Karanka to add another wide-player to his squad ahead of the loan window for Football League clubs opening tomorrow.

Hull City and Forest, who have strong links to Newcastle because of the transfers of Karl Darlow and Jamaal Lascelles, are the two clubs showing the most interest in Gouffran. Derby, Bolton and Blackburn are among those to be weighing up a move.

The 29-year-old played in Newcastle’s Capital One Cup win over Northampton last month but he has dropped well down the pecking order following the arrivals of Florian Thauvin, Georginio Wijnaldum and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

McClaren is believed to have indicated to Gouffran that he is prepared to listen to offers for him and the opportunity to join a Championship club on a short term basis is not something that the player has written off.

After signing from Bordeaux two and a half years ago he became a prominent part of the Newcastle team under Alan Pardew because of his versatility.

As well as being able to play up front, he has looked more effective on the right of a three-man supply line to a lone striker. He is, though, just as capable of playing on the left or through the middle.

Mehdi Abeid’s move to Panathinaikos and Haris Vuckic’s loan to Wigan were part of McClaren’s restructuring plans and moving on Gouffran is seen to be the next likeliest to happen, while Gael Bigirimana is also expected to head out on loan sooner rather than later.

McClaren is satisfied with what has happened on the transfer front so far and hopes to lead Newcastle to a first Premier League win of the season at West Ham United next Monday.

He does know that he will have to carry out at least one change because of the three-match suspension hanging over Mitrovic for the way he left his studs on Francis Coquelin’s shin.

Senegalese striker Papiss Cisse, who himself has remained at St James’ despite interest from abroad, is the favourite to start up front against the Hammers, with Ayoze Perez also pressing for the role.