By Nathan Jacobs
Newcastle United are poised to sign Everton defender Brendan Galloway on a season-long loan.
The left-back has featured 17 times for Everton in the Premier League but manager Ronald Koeman is keen for the youngster to get a consistent stretch of first-team football in the Championship.
After a disappointing start to life in the second tier, Rafael Benitez is seeking to strengthen his defence beyond the additions of Grant Hanley and Ciaran Clark with the addition of Galloway.
The 20-year-old was tipped for a successful career at the highest level by former boss Roberto Martinez, who said: “Brendan keeps surprising everyone. His maturity is very impressive and I haven't seen him needing time to rest or a need to take him out of the team.
“We have been very pleased with the way he has adapted to the demands and clearly we have someone quite special for the future,” the former Wigan boss commented.
If the loan deal is confirmed, he will be the ninth summer signing arriving in the North East after the high profile signatures of Dwight Gayle, Matt Ritchie and Mohamed Diame.
