NEWCASTLE UNITED are ready to take advantage of Hull City’s impending relegation from the Premier League by making a summer move for midfielder Stephen Hunt.

A foot injury prevented Hunt from facing Sunderland on Saturday but with Hull facing an uncertain future they have accepted their best players will have to be sold.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy also remains interested, but Newcastle have included Hunt on a list of targets they are interested in at the right price.

Hull are looking to recoup a large part of the £6m they paid to Reading for the Republic of Ireland international last August.

But Newcastle, among others, are hoping a reduced deal can be struck with Hull facing up to a player fire sale and a major restructure ahead of life back in the Championship.

The Tigers are £35m in debt but their owner Russell Bartlett and chairman Adam Pearson are determined to do everything they can to stave off the threat of administration.

Bartlett’s priority is to move on the highest-earners at the club and is known to have turned down numerous offers for Hunt during the January transfer window.

And while Newcastle are not thought to have been one of the clubs to have made an offer at that stage, manager Chris Hughton is ready to make his interest known following promotion.

Hughton knows his squad needs strengthening considerably ahead of the return to the Premier League and he is looking for players in a variety of positions.

Hunt’s stock has risen in the last five years after becoming an integral member of the Reading squad which recorded decent results in the Premier League before their relegation in 2008.

But the Royals, reluctantly, were forced to sell the 28-year-old after their failure to return to the top-flight last season.

Hunt – whose team-mate Jimmy Bullard is also expected to be moved on - has scored six times in 27 starts for Hull from midfield and he is a regular in the Republic of Ireland squad, having earned 22 caps.

If he was to move to the North-East he is likely to replace Nicky Butt in the Newcastle squad.

Butt has confirmed he is leaving the Magpies when his contract expires at the end of June and he has been considering retirement.

The ex-Manchester United midfielder will take his time to weigh up his options, although his former Old Trafford team-mate Roy Keane, the Ipswich boss, has emerged as a strong contender for his signature.

One player likely to be still around on Tyneside next season is Jonas Gutierrez, who has been given permission to return to South America early.

Gutierrez will not figure in the final matches of the season against Queens Park Rangers on Sunday because Hughton has given him permission to head home.

The former Real Mallorca winger is certain to be involved in Diego Maradona's World Cup squad and has been granted the time to see his family and friends for a few weeks.

Gutierrez flew straight back to Saenz Pena after the title celebrations at St James' Park on Saturday and is now fully focused on playing his part in the finals in South Africa