Newcastle are on the verge of completing £25m move for Chris Wood

Newcastle are set to complete the £25million signing of Burnley striker Chris Wood after activating a release clause in his contract, infuriating their relegation rivals.

The 30-year-old will undergo a medical on Tyneside ahead of his expected debut at home to Watford on Saturday.

Sportsmail understands Burnley, managed by Sean Dyche, are livid at losing a regular starter to a team level on points in the Premier League bottom three.

The Clarets are disappointed that Wood would leave them in this circumstance, and it is said they have no replacement lined up.

The New Zealand international will become the second signing of Newcastle’s Saudi-led regime, following the £12million arrival of Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid last week.

The two players share the same agent and it is understood Newcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley and head coach Eddie Howe were alerted to the availability of Wood during the arrival of Trippier.

Their need for a striker became urgent following the loss of Callum Wilson to a calf injury last month. He will miss at least the next eight weeks.

Wood joined Burnley from Leeds for £15m in 2017 and is in the final 18 months of his contract at Turf Moor. He has scored 53 goals in 165 appearances for the Clarets, although has netted only three times this season.

However, Newcastle saw the value in adding to Wood to their team and also in weakening a rival. Burnley and Newcastle are currently locked on 11 points in the relegation zone, two adrift of fourth-bottom Watford.