Rob Holding is likely to move on a season-long loan to Newcastle United this summer, without an option for a permanent deal.

David Ornstein reports for The Athletic that Newcastle United are winning the race to sign Rob Holding on loan. They still need to agree personal terms and finalise a deal with Arsenal, but they’re likely to do so fairly imminently.

According to the report, the loan won’t include an option to buy. You’d imagine Arsenal will receive a loan fee, though there’s no mention of how much they’d get yet.

Newcastle are keen to bring in a centre-back despite already having five on the books. The Athletic report that they’re open to offloading Florian Lejeune and Fabian Schar this summer, and Schar is also out with an injury at the moment.

That opens up an opportunity for Holding to step in immediately and try and nail down a spot.

The media also gave Leeds United a mention in relation to Holding in recent weeks. He was always a backup for them, however, and Ornstein reports that they were never strong contenders. Leeds are completing a move for Robin Koch of Freiburg instead.

I think this is a good move for Holding and Arsenal. If we’re being realistic, the centre-back’s value is far from at its height right now. If he can play regularly this year and rediscover his best form, he’ll be worth more to the club next summer.

At that point, Arsenal will also be releasing a few players from their current contracts. David Luiz, Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos only have deals lasting to 2021, if they don’t leave even earlier.

So Arsenal can either sell Holding on to the highest bidder or reintegrate him if things really go well this season. It’s an opportunity for both parties.