NEWCASTLE UNITED have agreed a deal with former Celtic goalkeeper Jude Smith, with the teenager set to join the Magpies’ Under-21 set-up.

Smith, who spent last season playing in Scottish League One with East Fife, had a trial with Newcastle last month.

He has subsequently been offered a contract with the Magpies, and is set to be confirmed as the club’s latest youth recruit in the next few days.

Newcastle are understood to have agreed a five-figure fee with East Fife for the 19-year-old, who began his career in the youth ranks at Celtic.

He joined East Fife last summer, and signed a new deal in the autumn after impressing in his early appearances with the Methil-based club.

He was one the youngest senior goalkeepers in British football last season, with his performances catching the eye of Newcastle’s scouting operation.

He is set to join the Magpies’ Under-21s team, and will become the club’s fourth summer signing at youth level following in the footsteps of Galway defender Alex Murphy, Tottenham full-back Jordan Hackett and Kilmarnock centre-half Charlie McArthur.

Stoke City also held talks with the teenager, but he has opted to move to Tyneside in the hope of establishing himself with Newcastle.

As well as adding to their junior goalkeeping ranks, the Magpies are also in the process of overhauling their senior shot-stopping set-up.

The summer arrival of Nick Pope means Eddie Howe now has four senior goalkeepers on the books, with Martin Dubravka, Karl Darlow and Mark Gillespie also part of the senior group.

Howe will not be including four goalkeepers in the squad list he has to submit to the Premier League once the transfer window closes, so he is looking to move on one of his current shot-stoppers before the end of the month.

“I certainly wouldn’t want anyone to leave, but I’m well aware that four (keepers) is a difficult number to carry,” said Howe at the weekend.

“My wish would be to do that, but obviously we’ve got to think of the players as well. Hopefully, we’ll make the right decision.”