NILE Ranger is close to securing a Newcastle United exit before next week's loan deadline after several Championship clubs stepped up their interest in the troubled striker.

Ranger has endured a disastrous six months at St James’ Park after slipping from the first-team picture into reserve-team exile, having been told to find a new club in the summer.

United had initially blocked a loan move, but the overriding feeling among the management team is he needs to leave the North East to escape the off-the-field problems which have dogged him over the last four months.

There have been several serious enquiries over the last seven days – with one club understood to be preparing an offer which would see him have first-team football under his belt and take him away from the legal problems he is facing in Newcastle.

A source close to Ranger said: “There is a good chance of Nile going out on loan before the deadline but it just depends on whether they are willing to take a chance on him now. The next day or so will be important.”

Watford and Bristol City have both made enquiries over the last week, but the club closing in on Ranger are understood to be based further north.

Blackpool made a seven-figure bid for the forward in the summer and may be encouraged by Newcastle’s willingness to now let him go out on loan.

However, The Journal understands Birmingham have now ended their interest in the striker after concluding they don’t need further reinforcements in the forward area.

Former United boss Chris Hughton has asked to be kept informed of Ranger’s availability – and may move again in January after any temporary switch falls through. Ranger would represent the most high-profile departure before Thursday’s loan deadline although there has been interest in Shane Ferguson too, who again played for the Northern Ireland on Tuesday after declaring his intention to continue playing for the province.