Nottingham Forest on verge of signing Jonjo Shelvey – their 25th player since promoted

Nottingham Forest are on the verge of signing Newcastle United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey with the North East club surprisingly willing to let him leave in this window.

Shelvey has been given permission to speak to Forest and is likely to travel south for a medical on Monday, before becoming the club’s 25th new signing since Steve Cooper guided them to promotion last summer.

Newcastle are currently making a series of checks, with both foreign and Premier League clubs, to ascertain whether they are able to sign a central midfielder on loan as a replacement, but are ready to let Shelvey regardless of the outcome of that search.

Telegraph Sport understands Shelvey was very keen to make the switch and is expected to sign a two-and-a-half year deal at the City Ground after telling club officials he wanted a new challenge.

That is believed to have persuaded manager Eddie Howe to let the player leave rather than force him to stay against his wishes, even though there are no guarantees Newcastle will be able to sign another midfield player before Tuesday’s deadline.

The 30-year-old is one of Newcastle’s longest serving players, having signed from Swansea City for £12 million back in 2016, but was no longer first choice and would have been used as cover for Bruno Guimaraes if he remained on Tyneside.

Howe was initially reluctant to let Shelvey leave, but felt there was no point trying to hang on to an unhappy player who would have been merely given more depth to the squad.

Shelvey only has six months left on his contract but would have been due a one year extension if certain appearance criteria had been met this season. Forest have been able to snap him on the cheap as a result.

Shelvey has missed a large chunk of the campaign with a hamstring injury, limiting him to just five appearances and a solitary start against Crystal Palace in the League Cup.

But Telegraph Sport has been told he is close to full fitness and should be playing again in the next couple of weeks.

Forest have identified the former Liverpool star as the midfield playmaker to help them stay in the Premier League having done a similar job for Newcastle before the takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Shelvey was a key member of the Newcastle teams under both Rafael Benítez and Steve Bruce which fought four successful relegation battles and was also popular with Howe in the first six months of his reign as manager.

Although the transfer fee is a small one, Telegraph Sport understands that Forest have offered the midfielder a small wage increase which is likely to take him to more than £70,000-a-week in the Midlands. Newcastle have needed to trim their wage bill this month and have not been able to find anyone willing to sign Ryan Fraser, Matt Ritchie or Jamal Lewis.

The decision to allow Shelvey to depart has been a difficult one, as the club’s hierarchy know they are leaving themselves short in the centre of midfield and will suffer if key players in that department are missing through injury or suspension.

The arrival of Anthony Gordon from Everton last week will allow Joelinton to move back into midfield if Howe needs him too. There is also confidence in Academy graduate Elliot Anderson, who will now be given opportunities in his preferred central role.

Newcastle have stressed they will remain active in the window but have always said they will only sign players who were already on their wanted list rather than those who are simply available in this window.

Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher has been a long term target but the London club are thought to be reluctant to let him leave this month. The same is true of Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Meanwhile, Newcastle have completed the signing of young West Ham right back Harrison Ashby for around £3 million, who will offer cover for captain Kieran Trippier.