EDDIE HOWE insists Newcastle United have not made a loan offer for Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay.

Reports in the last couple of days have suggested that the Magpies have made a loan approach in an attempt to prise McTominay from Old Trafford.

The Scotland international is not part of Erik ten Hag’s first-choice line-up at the moment, and Newcastle are keen to sign a central midfielder this month after Jonjo Shelvey suffered a long-term injury that is set to keep him out for at least another six weeks.

However, Howe is adamant there has been no approach for McTominay, with the Magpies currently not close to tying up any transfer deals.

“That’s (McTominay loan offer) not true,” said the Newcastle head coach. “We’re working hard at the moment on staying very much in contact with the market and looking at players and doing a lot of work.

“But we’re not imminently close to signing anybody. We’re not actively bidding for players at the moment – it’s a watching brief at the moment.”

Newcastle have made effective use of the loan market in the last year or so, but while the club are monitoring a number of possibilities for the final couple of weeks of the window, Howe accepts it will not be easy to pull off a deal.

“The loan market is always a big option for us,” he said. “But getting the right player on loan is very difficult.”