Newcastle United journalist Luke Edwards has offered his reaction to the news that Magpies target Chris Wood may have a release clause in his contract. 

The lowdown

Edwards broke the news on Sunday that the Tynesiders had approached Burnley over a deal for the 30-year-old.

Eddie Howe's side are set to be without their top scorer Callum Wilson for up to eight weeks after he picked up an injury, although Newcastle fans may have doubted whether a move for the New Zealand international was realistic given that the two clubs are relegation rivals - the Clarets are 18th, level on points with the Magpies (albeit with two games in hand).

However, Edwards then said that he was 'hearing Chris Wood might have a release clause', before expressing greater confidence in the information in a follow-up tweet in which he described the £5.4m-rated striker a 'priority target' for the Tynesiders.

The latest

After learning of the development, The Telegraph journalist tweeted: "Oooooohhh hearing Chris Wood might have a release clause in his contract. Haven’t had it confirmed yet but that would explain why #nufc have pursued it when it didn’t immediately make much sense given Burnley would be selling to a relegation rival."

He signed off the tweet by adding: "More to follow? Perhaps."

It remains to be seen just how much Newcastle will be required to pay for the £50,000-per-week striker.

The verdict

Newcastle's shock FA Cup defeat at the hands of League One Cambridge United laid bare the importance of adding cover for Wilson. On Saturday, Howe deployed the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin, Joelinton and Ryan Fraser, but his team still couldn't find the net; and after the game, the manager admitted that the absence of a 'focal point' cost them.

Signing Wood, who has hit double figures in each of the last four full Premier League seasons, would fill the gap left by Wilson's enforced absence. It would have the significant added benefit of weakening relegation rivals Burnley, who would be left without their leading marksman from 2020/21.

Therefore, this potential transfer has the ability to greatly alter the picture at the bottom of the table between now and the end of May.

In other news, this Premier League centre-back is also a potential target for Newcastle