NEWCASTLE UNITED striker Joselu is finally set to complete his transfer to Spanish side Alaves in the next 48 hours.

The 29-year-old has been on the verge of leaving the Magpies for the majority of the summer, with Alaves having agreed a fee of around €2m for his services.

However, the Spanish media reported that ‘legal issues’ were holding up the transfer at the start of the month, and Joselu returned to pre-season training with the rest of Newcastle’s first-team squad last week.

He is expected to travel to Alaves’ training complex in the next couple of days though, with his transfer set to be concluded provided he passes a medical without any problems.

The personal terms of his return to La Liga are already understood to have been agreed, with Joselu poised to sign a long-term deal with Alaves.

Having joined Newcastle in a £5m move from Stoke City in 2017, the Spaniard has already entered the final year of his current contract at St James’ Park.

He has made 52 first-team appearances for the Magpies, scoring seven goals, but struggled to make much of an impression under Rafael Benitez last season, managing just five Premier League starts.

Nevertheless, his impending departure follows hot on the heels on the exit of Salomon Rondon, who has returned to West Brom after his loan spell, and Ayoze Perez, who has made a £30m move to Leicester City, and leaves Newcastle extremely short of attacking options.

Dwight Gayle, who is back on Tyneside after a loan spell at the Hawthorns, and Yoshinori Muto, who boasts just one goal since joining Newcastle in January, will be the only forwards left on the Magpies’ books if Joselu leaves.