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Newcastle United’s financial strength is likely to give them an advantage over Sevilla in the developing race for Memphis Depay’s signature.

That’s according to Mundo Deportivo, who put the Magpies ahead of the Spanish side in their coverage of the Dutchman’s future today.

The newspaper explains that Barcelona need to reduce their wage bill if they are to add more signings in January and the ‘most viable option’ to do help them do so is Depay.

His contract expires next summer, and the club needs to get rid of his high wages. They would even be willing to let him leave the Nou Camp on a free transfer to do so.

He is yet to accept a departure but has proposals from several clubs around Europe, with Newcastle one of those mentioned.

Sevilla are another reportedly in the mix but sources have insisted to the newspaper that is not the case and there are reasons on a sporting and economic level for that.

Primarily they are focused on other players to improve Jorge Sampaoli’s squad but there is also the issue of them currently sitting in the bottom three, while the likes of Newcastle are in the top three in the Premier League.

Depay is also looking for a ‘lucrative contract’ should he decide to move in January, something Sevilla would struggle to offer but Newcastle could do comfortably.

It means Eddie Howe’s side are a more attractive prospect both financially and sportingly, something they may look to take advantage of in the coming weeks.