Expensive 2020 signing accepts Newcastle career is over as club shave £40k per week off wage bill

Jamal Lewis has lifted the lid on his farewell talks with Eddie Howe after the Newcastle United head coach sanctioned his season long loan to Sao Paulo.

The Northern Ireland international leaves after four years on Tyneside after his £15million move from Norwich City proved to be disappointing. Having pipped Liverpool to his signature, Lewis struggled to make an impact at St James' Park and was then dealt a series of injury blows before being loaned to Watford.

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But as his contract at Newcastle runs down, Lewis and Howe came to the conclusion that his Toon career was over. Reflecting on his final chat with Howe, Lewis said: "I’ve spoken to the manager Eddie Howe, I’m in my last year and I’ve done a season-long loan, so that kind of has the writing on the wall there.

"But if Sao Paulo can be my long-term home for the long-term future, that would be amazing."

Newcastle have now cleared £40,000 per week in wages off the budget with Lewis plying his trade in South America. Howe had stated that Lewis could be given the chance to fight for his place at Newcastle this season but a call after the transfer window shut in the UK changed any such plans.

Lewis said: "It was the night our window shut, my agent informed me that Sao Paulo could be interested and he said it could move quite quickly."