Newcastle United are hoping to make progress on the Andros Townsend deal this week by offering £3m as a down payment.
As reported by the Chronicle on Thursday, the Magpies are ideally looking for a loan deal with a view to a permanent transfer.
One of the key factors in the deal could be that the England winger is eager to return to Newcastle and would have no problem settling straight back into the squad.
Rafa Benitez and his coaching staff also know exactly what he can bring to the table after an impressive series of matches at the end of last term.
Benitez also wanted Townsend to stay last summer and twice held rounds of talks with the winger before reluctantly saying goodbye when Crystal Palace activated a minimum fee release clause in his contract.
Reports in the capital on Sunday suggested that Crystal Palace are due to pay a £3million instalment fee on Townsend’s £13million transfer from last summer, but that could negotiated as part of a loan fee.
Townsend was dropped by Sam Allardyce during the 1-0 loss to Everton at Selhurst Park but came off the bench for the last two minutes.
When commenting about the prospect of selling the winger, Allardyce said: “In this window you never know what might happen.
“There’s nobody for sale unless the bid is something we can’t afford to turn down.”