Newcastle United eagerly awaits the arrival of the January transfer window, hoping it will bring a much-needed boost to their chances of salvaging a successful season. Following a challenging December marked by exits from the Carabao Cup and Champions League, along with detrimental Premier League losses to Nottingham Forest, Luton Town, Tottenham Hotspur, and Everton, the Magpies find themselves in a critical situation and are in dire need of reinforcements.
It’s crucial to emphasize that Eddie Howe has acknowledged the financial constraints imposed by ongoing battles with Financial Fair Play regulations during the upcoming January transfer window. This necessitates a creative approach to their dealings, as highlighted by club officials. Howe mentioned on Friday that they haven’t received assurances and acknowledged the difficulty of the month, expressing the challenges of bringing in quality players amid the influence of Financial Fair Play on decision-making.
The manager hinted at a focus on loan deals, cut-price offers for players approaching the end of their contracts, and potentially targeting free agents. With the team’s injury woes showing signs of improvement in the early part of the new year, it’s speculated that incoming transfers may be limited to two or three players.
As Newcastle navigates the complexities of the January transfer market, questions arise about potential targets. The club will need to carefully consider its options and evaluate reported targets to determine feasible moves.
Could: Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City)
The England international has been a long-term goal for the Magpies, who first became aware of their interest while he was at Leeds United. The St James Park administration has long had admirers for Phillips, and before the midfielder’s £42 million transfer to Manchester City, it’s thought that a tentative offer was made to the Whites. After an 18-month difficult stint with the treble winners, there have been rumors of a January loan move involving Phillips.
Will not: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur)
The Magpies are reportedly considering a number of possibilities, including the seasoned goalkeeper, as they prepare to be without Nick Pope for some time. Lloris has not made an appearance for Spurs yet this season, and it is anticipated that he may depart the team in the upcoming weeks. It was reported on Friday that the France international is in negotiations with MLS team LAFC, and it appears that this will be his long-term home rather than a temporary move to the North East.
Could: David de Gea (Free Agent)
Another goalie that is reportedly being considered to temporarily replace Pope is De Gea. The former Manchester United player is thought to have drawn interest from teams in the Saudi Pro-League and La Liga, although he is now without a club after leaving Old Trafford during. He is now waiting on his next club, though, so Newcastle would be inclined to give him an opportunity to play in the Premier League again. De Gea would have to give up a large portion of his rumored £370,000 weekly salary from his last years at Old Trafford.
Will not: Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea – on loan at Roma)
This can be written off as fantasy chatter right away, and it most likely stems from agents hoping for an early explanation of the striker’s Chelsea future or a permanent move to Roma. Due to Lukaku’s salary demands, the Magpies would be unable to afford this deal, and it appears that it would be entirely inconsistent with their commercial practices since the Saudi-led purchase just over two years ago.
Could: Hugo Ekitike (Paris Saint-Germain
An additional player who the Magpies have been eyeing for a while and who might be available on loan in January. United could evaluate the France Under-21 international before deciding to make a permanent move next summer, which would be in line with their ongoing legal battle with Financial Fair Play regulations. The only issue with this deal is that, having rejected two separate moves to Tyneside in the previous two years, Ekitike would have to swallow a certain amount of pride on behalf of Newcastle.
Will not: Raphinha (Barcelona)
Newcastle had previously shown interest in Raphinha, closely observing the winger during his tenure at Leeds United. There were discussions about a potential unexpected transfer for the Brazilian star in the summer. Nevertheless, the likelihood of this happening seems low at the moment due to substantial transfer costs and high salary requirements.
Could: Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart)
This presents a more viable offensive alternative for various reasons. Guirassy has had an impressive first half in the Bundesliga, scoring 19 goals in 16 appearances across all competitions for Stuttgart. This has garnered interest from multiple clubs. Given his reported release clause of approximately £15m in his current contract and reasonable salary expectations, Newcastle United might seriously contemplate pursuing the Guinea international.
