Newcastle United 'in talks to sign Barcelona forward Memphis Depay'

Newcastle United are reportedly in preliminary talks to sign Barcelona forward Memphis Depay on loan this month.

The 28-year-old is under contract until the summer of 2023, but has fallen out of favour at Camp Nou with the arrivals of Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski.

Football Insider reports that talks have begun between Eddie Howe's side and the Spanish club over a potential loan move for the Dutch international.

The report also states that Depay's former club PSV Eindhoven are interested as they seek a replacement for Cody Gakpo, who joined Liverpool earlier this month for £37m.

After an impressive debut campaign, where he scored 13 goals in 36 matches, the former Manchester United man has featured just four times for Barcelona so far this season, with club chiefs accusing the player of delaying his return from injury to be fully fit for the World Cup.

Newcastle sit third in the Premier League, nine points off leaders Arsenal, only one point behind Manchester City and five points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in fifth place.