The potential signing of free agent Ryan Fraser would be a "superb bit of business" for Newcastle United.
That's the view of pundit and former Sunderland striker Darren Bent, who believes the former Bournemouth winger was "nailed on" to join Premier League champions Liverpool.
Fraser ran down his contract with the Cherries and is understood to have arrived on Tyneside to hold talks with head coach Steve Bruce.
United have been pushing for an answer from the Scotland international for several weeks, and the 26-year-old continues to interest a number of clubs including Celtic and Everton.
The Magpies are one of the frontrunners for his signature, and talkSPORT pundit Bent is surprised Fraser has not already been snapped up with the new season just a week away.
The former Tottenham and Aston Villa striker was confident the winger would sign for Liverpool, and reckons the former Bournemouth star possesses the ability to succeed at St James' Park.
Asked if he believed the signing of Fraser would be a coup, Bent told Football Insider : “Yeah, it would be and that kind of shows me that people are not sold on him like they once were.
“I mean, I thought he was nailed on to go to Liverpool, he’s still not signed anywhere so yeah, it’s a bit of a surprise about Newcastle because he is a very good player, he has got a lot of ability and on a free I thought he’d be out the door quite quickly.
“The fact that he’s not been is quite surprising to be fair. If Newcastle can get him, that is a superb bit of business to be fair, a really, really good bit of business.”
