Newcastle United are in talks over a loan with obligation to buy Chelsea defender Lewis Hall for £28million plus add-ons.
Mail Sport reported on Tuesday that Newcastle had stepped in ahead of Crystal Palace for the 18-year-old and talks are advancing.
The deferred payment will allow Newcastle to comply with Financial Fair Play (FFP) restrictions this window.
As Mail Sport revealed earlier this week, the Magpies have had a growing interest in the Blues academy prospect, who is a boyhood Newcastle fan, and are keen to buy him outright.