Newcastle United are the latest club to join the race for Rob Holding this summer, but they only want him on an initial loan deal, according to a report.

The Daily Mail report that Newcastle United are keen to sign Rob Holding from Arsenal this summer. They claim Arsenal are likely to let the centre-back leave as soon as they complete the signing of Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille.

Newcastle want to bring the defender in on loan, though it’s not clear whether Arsenal would accept that.

On the one hand, they need to raise cash for any further summer signings. A permanent signing would be better for that. On the other, Holding might have more value after a year of regular football in a non-COVID summer. Plus it’s a year off the wage bill.

Holding has other suitors. Leeds United are reportedly interested in the defender, with both the Mail and TEAMtalk mentioning Marcelo Bielsa’s side as a possible destination.

It’s worth mentioning Leeds are also among the teams in the race for Calum Chambers. Presumably, they’re only going to sign one or the other.

Thanks in part to all the recent injuries, Holding is making himself a regular at Arsenal.

He started the last three games of the league season as well as the FA Cup final, before featuring in the first friendly back against MK Dons. He scored a freak own goal, but you’d hope that was a one-off.

At the very least, you’d hope the fact he’s playing regularly would boost his value a little.