Newcastle close on Butterfield

Sky Sports understands Newcastle are winning the race to sign Barnsley midfielder Jacob Butterfield.

Pardew hoping to land Barnsley midfielder

Sky Sports understands Newcastle are winning the race to sign Barnsley midfielder Jacob Butterfield. Newcastle have held a long-term interest in the 21-year-old and they are now ready to push through a deal. Butterfield was one of the stand-out performers in the Championship before a serious knee injury brought his campaign to a premature end on New Year's Eve. His displays had attracted the interest of a host of clubs, but Newcastle are hoping to steal a march on their rivals by tying up a deal quickly as Alan Pardew looks to bolster his squad for next season Butterfield, whose contract expires at Oakwell this summer, has been offered a new deal at Barnsley, but it seems almost certain he will be moving on. Despite being out of contract, Barnsley would be due a compensation fee as he is under 24.