NEWCASTLE outcast Jamal Lewis is set to complete a shock transfer to Brazil.
The Northern Ireland international defender, 26, is heading to South America to join Sao Paulo.
The Magpies forked out £15million to Norwich for the left-back in 2020 but he has struggled to make much of an impact.
Now he will attempt to try and revive his career over 6,000 miles away after Sao Paulo agreed a loan-to-buy deal with the Toon.
The Brazilian transfer deadline ends at midnight and Lewis missed Newcastle’s clash with Tottenham as he travelled across the globe to finalise his move.
Eddie Howe shipped him out to Watford on loan last season but his 36 appearances in the Championship failed to convince the Hornets to sign him on a permanent deal.
He returned to Tyneside and played in the Magpies’ pre-season campaign, but despite being match fit he has failed to make a matchday squad yet this term.
Lewis is surplus to requirements at Newcastle with Lewis Hall, Dan Burn and Lloyd Kelly all ahead of him in the pecking order.
The ace, who won the Championship with Norwich in 2019, has entered the final 12 months of his contract at St James’ Park.
And Newcastle look set to at least regain something financially for Lewis with his shock switch.
Sao Paulo are fifth in Brazil’s Serie A but are due to lose their first-choice left-back Welington in January when he heads to Russell Martin’s Southampton.
And his deputy, Patryck Lanza, is currently out with a broken collarbone.
Howe was quizzed about more departures after Sunday’s 2-1 win over Tottenham amid Kieran Trippier also being linked with a Saudi switch.
And while insisting that he continues to want Trippier at the club, he admitted: “Jamal Lewis could possibly leave but we hope no one else does.”
The news of Lewis’ potential move to Sao Paulo left several Newcastle fans in shock.
One supporter tweeted: “Probably the most bizarre transfer of summer 2024.”
Another posted: “Wow! Good luck to him.”
A third wrote: “That’s left field.”
This one said: “Mental.”
And that one exclaimed: “Wut!”
