Fabian Schar is 'on [the] brink' of signing a new contract at Newcastle United, The Athletic's Chris Waugh reports.

The lowdown

Schar is out of contract at the end of the current season, having only penned a one-year extension in the summer of 2021.

The Swiss centre-back has played 16 Premier League games for The Magpies this season, starting eight in a row and 14 of the last 15.

Before last night's clash with Southampton, he had helped Eddie Howe's side put together a run of three clean sheets in their last six matches as they take real strides towards safety.

The latest

Waugh writes that Schar is now 'on brink' of putting pen to paper on a new deal (Twitter).

He reveals in a report for The Athletic that Howe wanted to sign the defender for Bournemouth back in 2017, when he was still playing for Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga.

This, he stresses, doesn't change the club's plan to sign at least one new centre-back during the summer transfer window.

The verdict

Once they've tied down Schar, who should Newcastle turn to next?

Well, another player who's currently set to walk as a free agent is central midfielder Sean Longstaff.

The Englishman has only started two Premier League games since Eddie Howe took over in the autumn, but he's an £11.7million-rated asset, and so letting him leave on a Bosman transfer wouldn't be particularly smart business.

He can offer Newcastle depth in the middle of the park, but will he resolve to stay and fight for his place, or express a reluctance to extend given the lack of opportunities afforded to him?

In other news, Newcastle have suffered a fresh injury blow.