Two Championship clubs to battle over Newcastle United player with before transfer deadline

Eddie Howe was fairly certain that Newcastle United wouldn't be doing any incoming transfer business before the window closes on Monday night, but he was a bit more open to the possibility of an exit.

We had expected that Joe Willock would leave the club this month, especially given the interest from Crystal Palace, Fulham and Leeds United, but his recent performances against PSG and Liverpool seem to have given him a stay of execution.

That, combined with a lack of cover, means that Eddie Howe would be very reluctant to sanction an exit for the former Arsenal man.

One player that Eddie Howe did say could potentially leave before Monday's deadline, however, is club captain Jamaal Lascelles.

Jamaal Lascelles is wanted by Birmingham and Leicester

The 32-year-old has barely featured for the Magpies over the last three seasons, and while he is an important figure behind the scenes, he's not bringing anything to the table on the pitch.

Birmingham World have reported this morning that Birmingham City have joined Leicester City in enquiring about the availability of Lascelles with a view to a potential move.

Lascelles has often been linked with a move to Turkey, too, and given Howe's response when asked about exits, something could already be in the pipeline for him to leave.

Jamaal Lascelles' contract is up in the summer

Jamaal Lascelles' contract is due to expire in the summer, so we're not likely to receive much of a fee for him, but we do at least get to save on a few months' worth of wages that can go into the pot for Ross Wilson to not spend it in the summer.

With all the injuries at the back, and the fact that Malick Thiaw is playing every game, we're not sure why Lascelles, who it's claimed isn't injured, can't step up and play for the remainder of the season and leave on a free in the summer.

The decisions the club are making this month are truly baffling. But what do we know?