Newcastle closing in on African transfer target

Ayew, a 25-year-old Ghana international, has rejected the offer of a new contract at Marseille’s Stade Velodrome, and has confirmed his desire to move elsewhere.

His status as an impending free agent means overseas clubs are free to talk to him, and senior members of Newcastle’s recruitment team are understood to have contacted his representatives with a firm contract offer.

Ayew is currently considering that offer, and while a number of other European clubs have expressed an interest, the Magpies hierarchy are hoping their attempts to push through a deal before the official opening of the transfer window will pay dividends.

A similar approach enabled them to land Yohan Cabaye and Ayoze Perez in the past, and while the likes of Wolfsburg, Borussia Dortmund and Roma have all been linked with Ayew in the last few weeks, there is a growing confidence within St James’ Park that this month’s early groundwork will prove productive.

Marseille are resigned to losing Ayew, with the club’s president, Jose Anigo, recently stating: “Andre Ayew is a confirmation I was able to make from my start here. I regret he will leave. He will not extend the contract, so I feel he will go.”

A product of the Marseille youth academy, Ayew has won two French Cups and appeared at both the World Cup finals and Africa Cup of Nations.

Newcastle scouts have watched him on a number of occasions this season, and while there is still a huge question mark over the identity of a permanent head coach, managing director Lee Charnley has been instructed to push forward the club’s recruitment plans regardless.

One of last summer’s key signings was Siem de Jong, and the Dutchman is due to make a surprise return to training this morning.

De Jong has completed the first phase of his recovery from a collapsed lung more quickly than expected, and is ready to move on to the second stage of his rehabilitation by joining in with some training work at Newcastle’s Benton training ground.

It had initially been feared the Holland international would not play again this season, but the Magpies’ medical staff are ready to give him every chance of being involved in the final nine games of the campaign.

“The last X-ray was all good,” tweeted de Jong yesterday. “So tomorrow I will start training for myself again.”

De Jong’s first year as a Newcastle player has been wrecked through injury, with his most recent appearance, which came against Crystal Palace at the end of August, representing only his third senior outing in a Magpies shirt.

Signed from Ajax to provide the creative focal point of a new-look Newcastle side, the 26-year-old suffered a torn thigh muscle that sidelined him for four months.

His lung problem emerged just as he was approaching a return to the first team, and while the season will still end as something of a write-off, a handful of appearances between now and May would at least give him the opportunity to showcase some of the talents that once saw him installed as Ajax skipper.

Meanwhile, Davide Santon will automatically complete a permanent transfer to Inter Milan if he starts this evening’s Europa League game against Wolfsburg.

Santon has made nine starts for Inter since moving on loan in January, and the terms of his temporary deal stipulate that his switch will become permanent if that number rises to ten.

Having already received a loan fee of around €300,000 for Santon, Newcastle are set to receive another €3.7m once the full-back’s transfer is confirmed.