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According to Le10 Sport, Lille midfielder Thiago Maia ‘could quickly’ leave the Ligue 1 outfit and join Newcastle United on a season-long loan deal, with the Magpies having an option to buy him on a permanent transfer.

The 21-year-old moved to Europe from Santos when he joined Christophe Galtier’s side last summer and after spending one year with his current employer, he ‘could soon enter’ England.

Rafael Benitez’s side ‘would be close’ to finding an agreement on a loan deal for the Brazilian, who still has four years left on his contract at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

The French website reports that Lille’s aim is to put their player in the Premier League market so that they can raise cash from his sale in 2019.

They will not be able to earn much from the switch in this summer transfer window because Maia would join the Tyneside club on a loan deal. Next summer Newcastle would have an option to sign him on a permanent transfer for €25m.