Newcastle clinch £13m midfielder deal after breakthrough in talks - report
By Alex Stevens
Andros Townsend has agreed a £12.9million transfer to Crystal Palace, according to a report.
Reliable French publication L'Equipe claim Palace have triggered the release clause in Townsend's Newcastle contract and reached an agreement with the player.
It is said that the Premier League club will pay £12.9million for the England international, who has been strongly linked with a summer exit from St James' Park.
Football Insider reported earlier this month that the winger was weighing up the shock possibility of staying at Newcastle in order to continue working with Rafael Benitez.
But Townsend could now be headed for Selhurst Park as he becomes the first senior Newcastle player to quit following the club's relegation from the Premier League.
It would also mean a quick return to the city in which he grew up following the attacking midfielder's January switch from boyhood club Tottenham to the north-east.
The goal-scoring winger emerged as a key figure in Newcastle's survival bid under Benitez and his record of four goals in 13 Premier League games for the club was enough to earn him a place in England's provisional 26-man squad for Euro 2016.
But manager Roy Hodgson decided against taking Townsend to France, despite an impressive substitutes’ appearance against Australia at the Stadium of Light.
In other Newcastle news, French giants Marseille are targeting their third Newcastle midfielder.

