By Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

30th Aug, 2023 | 12:15pm

Sources: Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom race to sign Newcastle star Hendrick

Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday, West Brom and Aberdeen are racing to sign Newcastle midfielder Jeff Hendrick, sources have told Football Insider.

Newcastle are open to letting the versatile midfielder, 31, leave before Friday’s 11pm transfer deadline.

Championship trio Leeds, Wednesday and West Brom have registered their interest in Hendrick and are lining up bids.

They face competition from Scottish Premiership outfit Aberdeen, who are keen on a loan move.

Eddie Howe strengthened his midfield department this summer through the £55million signing of Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali, who has made a strong start to his career in Tyneside.

With Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff also ahead in Howe’s pecking order, Hendrick has been deemed excess to requirements at St James’ Park.

Hendrick has failed to make the bench in all three of Newcastle’s Premier League fixtures so far this season.

Newcastle are also looking to trim their wage bill after investing £130million in new signings this summer and see Hendrick’s departure as a way of balancing the books.

Hendrick joined the Magpies on a free transfer in 2020 but has only made 27 appearances for the club.

He joined Championship outfit Queens Park Rangers on a six-month loan in 2022 after struggling for game time at Newcastle.

Hendrick also spent the 2022/23 campaign out on loan at Reading, where he scored four times and assisted once in 46 appearances.

Hendrick has one year remaining on his Newcastle contract after penning a four-year deal in 2020.

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