Chris Wood, a striker for Newcastle United, has signed a loan agreement with Nottingham Forest that will turn into a permanent one at the end of the current season.

Wood didn't join Newcastle until January 2022, moving for £25 million from then-relegation rivals Burnley.

Burnley were ultimately relegated, but Eddie Howe helped Newcastle easily stay up, and a year later, they are still very much in the running for Champions League qualifying.

But whereas Wood started 15 of his 17 Premier League games for the Magpies the previous season, he has only made four starts in his 18 appearances this year, totaling just 437 minutes.

The New Zealand international had scored just four goals in 35 games, placing him behind the recovered Callum Wilson and the club-record signing Alexander Isak.

Instead, he will spend at least the rest of the current campaign with Forest, who hired Wood after learning of Taiwo Awoniyi's injury in an effort to maintain their Premier League status for the upcoming year.

The agreement contains "a conditional obligation to become a permanent deal", Forest confirmed, with reports suggesting the achievable criteria of those conditions will lead to a £15m move.

We are delighted to announce the signing of New Zealand international Chris Wood! 🤩#WoodForTheTrees🌳 | #NFFC— Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) January 20, 2023

Wood was no longer a starter at St James' Park, but only Jacob Murphy (36) had made more Premier League appearances for Newcastle since his arrival from Burnley, and Howe wants a replacement for the 31-year-old forward.

Ahead of the transfer on Friday, Howe said: "Hopefully, we're planning to replace him.

"Certainly, from my side, there was no thought of letting a player go and not replacing [them]. I think that would leave us dangerously short of players."

Howe acknowledged the club were now in a "difficult situation" in the transfer market but recognised Wood's departure represented "a very good deal financially".