Ross Wilson is poised to fill the vacant sporting director role at Newcastle as one of English football’s longest-running pursuits finally draws to a close.

Talks regarding Wilson’s departure from Nottingham Forest are advanced, with Newcastle hoping to secure a compensation deal that would permit Forest’s outgoing chief football officer poised to play an active part in the January transfer window. Recruitment aside, one of Wilson’s first tasks in the role will be attempting to persuade Sandro Tonali to sign a new, improved contract, extending the Italy midfielder’s existing deal beyond 2028.

Eddie Howe has advocated for Wilson’s appointment since Paul Mitchell stood down as Newcastle’s sporting director in June. It is understood the Scot is no longer performing an active role at Forest after agreeing to succeed Mitchell earlier this week.

Prising Ross – who was part of the visiting contingent as Newcastle beat Ange Postecoglou’s side at St James’ Park last Sunday – out of the City Ground has proved slow and complicated, particularly as Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis was extremely reluctant to lose the highly regarded 41-year-old. Wilson may have feared the prospect of Edu treading on his toes after Marinakis hired Arsenal’s former sporting director...