Newcastle agree £13million transfer for Dan Burn with Brighton defender heading home to North East for medical
NEWCASTLE have agreed a £13million fee with Brighton for Dan Burn.
Toon had two prior bids rejected but have now made a breakthrough to bring the defender back to the North East.
Burn, born in the Northumberland town of Blyth, must now agree personal terms and complete a medical but there are not expected to be any hiccups.
It comes as a major boost to Magpies boss Eddie Howe, who saw strengthening at centre-back as a priority at the start of the window.
And after failing to secure Lille's Sven Botman and Sevilla's Diego Carlos, Howe will be relieved to get a new recruit in the door - particularly one with considerable Premier League experience.
Albion were not actively looking to sell Burn, who has been in fabulous form this season and who brilliantly shackled Romelu Lukaku in Brighton's two recent draws with Chelsea.
But they would not stand in the way of his desire to move back to his boyhood club, where he is expected to boost his wages significantly.
Burn also had only 18 months left on his contract and with him turning 30 in May, the fee is deemed a good deal for the South Coast club.
Most read in football
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
While Burn was not pushing for the move, he is understood to be delighted to be going back 'home'.
The 6ft 7ins defender idolised Alan Shearer as a kid and went to the 2000 FA Cup semi-final as a supporter when the Magpies lost to Chelsea.
Burn was also on Newcastle's book until he was released aged 11.
He then had a stint working in Asda before his professional career took off with Darlington, Fulham, Wigan and then Brighton, whom he joined for £3m in 2018.
Burn was converted into a rampaging left wing-back when boss Graham Potter first took over a year later, but in the last year or so has been back playing in his familiar role of centre-back.
Brighton are not expected to sign a replacement in this window as Potter is already well stocked at centre-half.
Captain Lewis Dunk is set to return from injury soon, while Adam Webster, Joel Veltman and Shane Duffy, as well as prospect Hayden Roberts, are all at Potter's disposal.
⚽ Read our Transfer News Live blog for the very latest rumours, gossip and done deals