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Chris Wood is due to have a medical for Newcastle United after they activated his release clause ahead of a transfer from Burnley, according to multiple reports.

Wood recently emerged as a priority target for Newcastle. They are in the market for a new striker this month amid fitness concerns for Callum Wilson. Even without his injury issues, the new owners may have wanted a statement striker signing anyway.

Over time, Newcastle will be able to attract big names due to the financial power of their Saudi owners. For now, they are having to get creative while in a relegation battle.

The target they have settled on up front is New Zealand international Wood. He has been with Burnley since 2017, scoring 53 goals from 165 appearances.

Just three of those goals have come from his 21 games this season, though. That said, he has hit double figures in all four of his previous seasons at Turf Moor.

Now, Newcastle are putting their faith in him to aid their own fight against relegation. They are reported to have activated a £25m exit clause in Wood’s contract, leaving Burnley powerless.

As first revealed by John Percy of the Telegraph and verified by other respected sources such as Sky Sports and David Ornstein of The Athletic, Wood will travel to Newcastle tonight before his medical.

Craig Hope of the Daily Mail has confirmed Wood’s release clause stands at £25m and that Burnley are “furious” to be losing him to Newcastle.

At the age of 30, Wood has experience and pedigree of the appropriate standard.

When news of their interest emerged, it was reported that Newcastle want Wood’s transfer over the line in time for their next game, against another relegation rival, Watford, on Saturday. Now, they seem to be in the final stretch to make it happen.

In fact, Sky claim he could go straight into the Newcastle lineup for their next match.

The former Leeds forward will become their second signing of the Saudi era. He will follow full-back Kieran Trippier (another former Burnley man, who joined Newcastle from Atletico Madrid) to St James’ Park.

Chris Wood to be followed by another striker?

It is unlikely that Wood would be the last to arrive on Tyneside this month, either. Newcastle want to sign at least one centre-back.

What’s more, Sky even claim it is still possible for them to sign a second striker as well. They remind that Reims forward Hugo Ekitike is the subject of “ongoing” talks.

The French side want £30m for Ekitike, which is a higher fee than what Newcastle have discussed in an informal offer.

An earlier report from the Daily Mail, coincidentally, claimed Newcastle know they would need to partner the France under-20 international with a more experienced striker.

That may be where Wood comes in. And as he approaches his move to Tyneside, Newcastle should in theory be able to ramp up their pursuits of further targets.

READ MORE: Crystal Palace lead Newcastle in race for Arsenal striker as transfer talks begin

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