Newcastle United loan Achraf Lazaar to Serie A club Benevento

Newcastle United have allowed Achraf Lazaar to join Serie A side Benevento on loan for the duration of the 2017-18 campaign.

The Morocco international was told by boss Rafael Benitez that he was free to find a new club during the summer transfer window after failing to settle in the North-East.

Lazaar signed from Palermo in 2016 on a five-year deal, but he featured just four times in the Championship last season, each coming from the bench.

Conflicting reports emerged on Thursday - one suggesting that Genoa and Atalanta were sniffing around, while another claimed that Benitez would instead keep hold of the 25-year-old after missing out on a new right-back.

It has now been confirmed that Lazaar will spend the season with Benevento, however, with the aim of helping the newly-promoted club stay in the Italian top flight.