‘Ready To Proceed’ – Newcastle United Ready To Make Signing Despite Eddie Howe Exit | OneFootball

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Newcastle United are ‘ready to proceed’ with the signing of shot-stopper Lukas Hornicek from Braga despite Eddie Howe’s exit from St James’ Park.

Howe has brought the curtain down on a five-year spell with the Magpies in a development that has come as a major surprise, particularly after overseeing several pieces of transfer business and already launching the club’s pre-season preparations.

Al Ahli boss Matthias Jaissle is expected to succeed Howe in the St James’ Park dugout, with negotiations continuing as Newcastle work towards finalising an agreement with the young German.

Newcastle have already endured a dramatic summer, marked by Sandro Tonali’s big-money departure to Tottenham Hotspur and the lingering uncertainty surrounding Bruno Guimaraes amid mounting interest from Arsenal.

The Magpies have focused on investing in emerging talent, adding highly-rated youngsters Bazoumana Toure, Aladji Bamba, Sean Steur and Ewen Jaouen to their ranks.

Hornicek could become Newcastle’s fifth arrival of the window, with the Tyneside outfit identifying the goalkeeper as the latest addition to strengthen their options between the sticks.

Howe’s impending exit had inevitably cast doubt over whether ongoing negotiations, including the pursuit of Hornicek, would continue uninterrupted.

Now, irrespective of the impending managerial change, Newcastle are ‘ready to proceed’ with the Hornicek deal in the ‘coming hours’, with the Magpies preparing to trigger the release clause in the goalkeeper’s contract, according to Portuguese outlet Maisfutebol.

The 24-year-old has already settled personal terms with Newcastle after reaching an agreement over the weekend and is now awaiting the clubs to iron out the remaining formalities before sealing his switch to the Premier League.

The Czech international could be preparing for his final appearance in Braga colours against Zeleznicar Pancevo in the Conference League qualifying rounds before travelling to England to complete the move.

Braga claimed victory in the first leg, with Hornicek producing a composed display to keep the opposition at bay ahead of the return encounter.

The shot-stopper has come through Braga’s academy pipeline and a move to St James’ Park would bring an end to his long association with the Portuguese outfit.

Exactly where Hornicek would slot into Newcastle’s goalkeeping hierarchy remains unclear with Nick Pope and Eweuen already giving the Magpies depth between the sticks.

Newcastle had also pursued Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford earlier in the window, although he now appears destined to join Leeds United instead.

The Magpies must first resolve the managerial situation, with Jaissle expected to be unveiled in the coming days, while confirmation of Hornicek’s arrival could quickly follow.