MY ACCOUNT
Newcastle United striker Chris Wood has joined Nottingham Forest on an initial loan deal, which is set to become permanent at the end of the season.
Wood only signed for Newcastle in January 2022, leaving then-relegation rivals Burnley in a £25million move.
Although Burnley were subsequently relegated, Newcastle stayed up comfortably under Eddie Howe and a year later are well in contention for Champions League qualification.
But having started 15 of his 17 Premier League appearances for the Magpies last term, Wood’s 18 outings in this campaign have included only four starts and account for a meagre 437 minutes.
Wood found himself behind the fit-again Callum Wilson and club-record signing Alexander Isak in the pecking order, with the New Zealand international having scored just four times across 35 appearances.
He will instead spend at least the rest of the season at Forest, who have recruited Wood following news of an injury to Taiwo Awoniyi as they bid to secure their Premier League status for next season.
The agreement contains “a conditional obligation to become a permanent deal”, Forest confirmed, with reports suggesting the achievable criteria of those conditions will lead to a £15m move.
Wood was no longer a starter at St James’ Park, but only Jacob Murphy (36) had made more Premier League appearances for Newcastle since his arrival from Burnley, and Howe wants a replacement for the 31-year-old forward.
Ahead of the transfer on Friday, Howe said: “Hopefully, we’re planning to replace him.
“Certainly, from my side, there was no thought of letting a player go and not replacing [them]. I think that would leave us dangerously short of players.”
Howe acknowledged the club were now in a “difficult situation” in the transfer market but recognised Wood’s departure represented “a very good deal financially”.
