Celtic interested in signing Newcastle United winger Ryan Fraser

Fraser has been training with the Magpies’ development squad since falling out of favour with head coach Eddie Howe in the second half of last season.

The Scotland international did not feature in any of Newcastle’s senior pre-season games this summer, and has been stripped of his squad number, with new signing Tino Livramento taking over the number 21 shirt.

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Fraser’s time on Tyneside is clearly at an end, despite him still having two years of his current contract to run, and Celtic are ready to make a formal approach in an attempt to take him to Parkhead.

Newcastle are unlikely to demand a significant transfer fee for the 29-year-old as they are simply keen to remove his wages from their books and draw a line under the current situation.

Celtic boss Brendan Rogers is keen to add another winger to his squad this month, with Fraser having been identified as a viable target.

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Fraser is not the only exiled senior player Newcastle are looking to move on this summer as Isaac Hayden and Jeff Hendrick also currently remain contracted to the club despite being told they do not form part of Howe’s plans.

Both players spent part of last season away from Tyneside on loan, but are currently back in the North-East training with Newcastle’s second string.

Hayden has been linked with a possible move to Southampton, but at this stage, neither has attracted a formal offer for their services.

When asked about the trio earlier this summer, Howe said: “I think with those players, in particular, it is very difficult for us as a football club because, in an ideal world for their careers, we’d want them to go and play football and have a good career at another football club.

“But there’s all sorts of difficulties associated with it – contract length, the amount of money they are earning – and it is finding a football club that they want to go to as well. They are all great lads. I have no issue with any of them and I wish them well, but let’s see what happens.”