Newcastle United are plotting the capture of 6ft 5in Norway international centre midfielder from Sheffield United following the shock news on Tyneside that club veteran JonJo Shelvey is leaving The Magpies after seven years to join Nottingham Forest.

SKY Sports' Keith Downie explained that Newcastle and Fulham are chasing the signature of the 24 year-old albeit with different buying structures with The Magpies favouring a loan deal initially with an obligation to buy:

Berge has scored 11 goals in 76 games for The Blades including two in the top flight - a strike at Brammall Lane during Covid lockdown against Spurs and a penalty against Liverpool at Anfield during 29 Premier League games for the red and whites before a serious tendon injury required surgery and kept him sidelined for four months.

His physical stature, athleticism, passing range, dribbling and goalscoring ability has earned Berge 32 caps for his country so far in which he has scored once against Malta in a European Championship qualifier and he is developing a reputation as one of the foremost eminent central midfielders in Europe with a bigger stage beckoning to him.

At 6ft 5in, his height would fit in well in Eddie Howe's growing Land of the Giants at St James' Park alongside 6ft 7in Dan Burn, 6ft 6in Nick Pope, 6ft 4in Alex Isak & 6ft 5in Sven Botman as the ulimatel sleeping giant in world football angrily awakens...