Jamal Lewis subject of loan interest from Watford and Swansea

Watford and Swansea are battling out to sign Jamal Lewis on loan from Newcastle, according to Scott Wilson, Chief Sports Writer for The Northern Echo. The Hornets are apparently favourites for the 25-year-old left-back at this point, having held a further round of talks with Newcastle officials in the past 24 hours.

Lewis is surplus to requirements at St. James' Park, with Dan Burn, Matt Targett, and Paul Dummett all seemingly ahead of him in the left-back pecking order at the moment. Getting a fee for the Luton-born defender seems to be beyond Newcastle, though, and a season-long loan looks likely to be agreed with a Championship club before the window closes.

Eddie Howe has also been credited with an interest in versatile right-back Tino Livramento and left-back Lewis Hall in the past couple of weeks, meaning Lewis' chances of being registered in either our Premier League or Champions League squad would reduce further still.

Lewis is with the rest of the lads out in the US and played poorly at left wing in the first half of the 2-1 win at Rangers last week. He was not named in the matchday squad for the 3-3 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday evening/Monday morning, however, and it would be a surprise to see him involved against Chelsea or Brighton in our remaining US Summer Series games.

Karl Darlow, Kell Watts, Isaac Hayden, Jeff Hendrick, and Ryan Fraser are the other names on the market this summer, with Darlow now expected to join Leeds instead of Bournemouth. Javier Manquillo could also depart if Howe is successful in bringing in Livramento from Southampton.