Newcastle United preparing for Yoshinori Muto's exit with Eibar holding talks for season long loan

The player arrived for a big fee two years ago but has failed to hit the heights at Newcastle

Newcastle United will look to get a loan move for Yoshinori Muto sealed before the end of the transfer window as they look to reduce their squad size.

Muto has been told he is not part of Steve Bruce's plans this season and his representatives have been asked to find loan suitors.

Chronicle Live understands that La Liga side Eibar have been spoken to about the possibility of a loan deal but the move has not yet been finalised for the £9.5million man.

Muto knows that - at 28 - he must be playing first team football on a regular basis and despite being given only a handful of chances to impress, he has slipped down the pecking order at Newcastle.

Indeed, Callum Wilson, Andy Carroll, Joelinton and Miguel Almiron are all ahead of Muto after pre-season with even an injury to Dwight Gayle failing to result in the Japan international getting a second chance.

When asked about Muto, Bruce said: “Yoshi is a smashing lad. It hasn’t gone as well for him as I’m sure he’d have liked but he’s the ultimate pro.

“He probably needs to go somewhere and play. It’s not healthy that he’s not going to be involved.”