By Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

18th Mar, 2023 | 4:37pm

Sources: Ebanks finalises Newcastle United move after West Ham agreement reached

Newcastle United have agreed a deal to hire West Ham talent spotter Delroy Ebanks, sources have told Football Insider.

The London club’s head of academy recruitment has joined the north-east giants as they accelerate the overhaul of their entire transfer set-up.

It is believed that Ebanks has already started working for Newcastle after resigning from his post at West Ham.

Ebanks has taken on a newly-created recruitment role in which he becomes the club’s new southern lead scout and will be based down south searching for rising stars for Newcastle.

The Hammers are now looking for a new academy recruitment manager to replace the respected Ebanks.

Meanwhile, Newcastle are planning to make several more appointments as part of sporting director Dan Ashworth’s ambitious recruitment drive.

Football Insider broke the news earlier this month that the Saudi Arabia-owned club had agreed a deal to hire Paul McLaren from Man City in a head scouting role.

In addition, Newcastle are expanding their scouting network abroad with up to seven international scouts potentially being appointed.

The club are looking to recruit scouts for France; Germany, Holland and Belgium; Spain and Portugal; Italy, Switzerland and Croatia; Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Denmark and Serbia; Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador as well as Argentina and Uruguay.

On 14 February, Football Insider revealed that Newcastle will bolster their squad with a number of top-quality signings this summer if they secure European qualification.

Targets under 24 are a top priority for Howe as he looks to bolster his squad ahead of the summer window and push further up the league for seasons to come.

In other news, Kieran Maguire: Newcastle United brace for busy summer as £57m news confirmed