Former Norwich City Championship title winner Jamal Lewis is set for a surprise transfer move to Brazilian club Sao Paulo.

Newcastle United's Lewis is reportedly poised to travel to south America this weekend to complete a loan with a buy option ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline in Brazil.

Sao Paulo based football journalist, Andre Hernan, tweeted to his 340,000 followers on Saturday the Northern Irish international is closing in on a move to the Tricolor – the former club of Gabby Sara.

Sao Paulo are currently fifth in Brazil’s Serie A but in the market for a left back with first choice Welington due to join Russell Martin’s Southampton in the upcoming January domestic transfer window.

Fellow full back, Patryck Lanza, is currently recovering from a broken collarbone.

Lewis made 36 Championship appearances on loan for Watford last season, including both league games against the Canaries, but has failed to establish himself at Newcastle since his big-money move from Norwich in 2020.

The 26-year-old would appear to be surplus to requirements under Eddie Howe as he enters the final 12 months of his deal on Tyneside.

The attacking left back made 92 senior appearances after being plucked from the Norwich academy by Daniel Farke, and was a key part of the 2018/19 Championship title winning side in tandem with Max Aarons.

Lewis was also the subject of transfer interest from Liverpool during his spell in Norfolk, but headed to the north-east following relegation from the Premier League in 2020.

Another of Farke’s class of 2018/19, Ben Godfrey, moved to Italy earlier this summer to join Atalanta.