Jeff Hendrick targeted by Aberdeen, Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, and West Brom

Several clubs, including Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday, and West Bromwich Albion of the Championship, plus Aberdeen of the Scottish Premiership, are in a "race" to sign Magpies midfielder Jeff Hendrick, according to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider.

Leeds, Wednesday, and West Brom have signaled their intent by registering interest and are reportedly preparing permanent transfer offers for Hendrick ahead of Friday's 11 p.m. BST deadline.

Meanwhile, Aberdeen are looking to swoop in with a loan offer to take the Republic of Ireland international north of the border.

The 31-year-old is very much surplus to requirements at St. James' Park, having been excluded from training with the first team by Eddie Howe throughout this summer.

Hendrick has previously had loan spells at Queens Park Rangers in the second half of 2021/22 and Reading throughout 2022/23, being relegated with the latter at the end of that campaign.

Joining Newcastle on a free transfer in 2020, the midfielder has made just 27 appearances, failing to impress in the vast majority of them.

He is now into the final 10 months of the four-year contract he signed when moving from Burnley and time is running out to get his wages off the books to help with financial fair play. Most reports have Hendrick being on around £40,000 per week at Newcastle, meaning the club could save as much as £1.75 million by moving him on before the deadline.

Here's hoping O'Rourke and Football Insider's sources are on the money, for once!