Newcastle and Crystal Palace in race for McCarthy

Crystal Palace and Newcastle are leading the chase for James McCarthy.

According to a report in the Daily Mail the Everton midfielder is likely to be the subject of late bids before the transfer window closes.

McCarthy has struggled for fitness and to keep a place in Ronald Koeman’s side with the arrival of Morgan Schneiderlin from Manchester United further reducing his top team chances.

Everton paid Wigan £13m for the midfielder in 2013 and will be looking for at least £15m to sell the Irish internationalist.

Sam Allardyce is getting anxious over the lack of new faces and is in need of tried and tested Premier League players to boost Crystal Palace’s hopes of avoiding the drop.

Newcastle are looking strong favourites to gain promotion back to the Premier League with Rafa Benitez starting to put in place a squad to feature in the top half of next season’s Premier League.

McCarthy has more than three years left on his contract but would rather be playing regularly than allow his career to drift away on the sidelines at Goodison.