Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton looking to offload striker Xisco

Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton is hoping misfit striker Xisco can secure a permanent deal with Racing Santander.

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The young Spaniard has spent the season on loan at Racing in the Primera Division, scoring three goals in 23 appearances for the club.

However, following the end of the league campaign the young striker is set to return to Newcastle, although Hughton admits a permanent transfer may yet be agreed.

"He's our player again now because the Spanish season has finished but Xisco has shown his desire to go back to Spain on a permanent basis," Hughton told the Newcastle Journal.

"I think he'd like to stay [at Racing Santander] and I think that is understandable because it hasn't really worked for him here.

"It is something we will now have to work on. We've not heard anything from Racing Santander yet about whether they want to keep him, but we obviously have to look for a solution now and we'll be contacting them.

"We will talk to Xisco and Racing Santander and look at the options that we have but if nothing is sorted out, then he will return to us for pre-season."

Hughton however insists he is not shutting the door totally on the striker.

"We intend to do everything right and we will expect him back if for whatever reason a deal doesn't go through," he said.

Xisco was signed infamously above Kevin Keegan's head in a £5.7 million move that helped prompt the former manager's exit back in 2008. He has played just seven times for Newcastle, scoring once.

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