TRANSFER MARKET
January transfer window: which players should Newcastle sign?
Following the recent Saudi Arabia backed take-over, the relegation threatened side are expected to make a series of signings in the January transfer market.
With just one win to their name in the current season and languishing at the wrong end of the Premier League table, the newly-Saudi backed Newcastle United are expected to be one of European football's more active clubs in the forthcoming January transfer window with the Saudi funds set to be employed as part of the quest to avoid the drop to the Championship.
Ready for a fight
Speaking recently, former Newcastle player John Barnes stated that the club need to secure players who are 'ready for a fight' as the club lie in second last position in the table, level with bottom side Norwich City on just ten points.
The former England international added: "The new players and the rest at the club will have a hard job ahead of them. After the euphoria of the takeover and everybody thinking it’s great that Mike Ashley’s gone and things are going to fall into place, they have to actually work".
Key positions
Sources close to the North-East club have admitted that the Premier League side are hoping to sign two centre-backs, as well as a new midfielder. The 'Magpies' defensive record is particularly alarming with the side in black and white having already shipped 41 goals so far in the 2021-22 campaign and the side boast the leakiest defence in the league. Indeed, Newcastle have conceded 79 Premier League goals in 2021, the joint-most in a single calendar year in the competition along with Ipswich Town in 1994.
Despite the likes of Gareth Bale, Ousmane Dembele and even Luka Modric being linked with a move to the North-East, one name that is more of a realistic target for the side managed by Eddie Howe is that of Atletico Madrid's Kieran Tripper.
Trippier Premier League return
Kieran Trippier has long been linked with a move back to England. The 31-year-old full back has plied his trade in Spain for the past two-and-a-half years with Trippier spending time with Manchester City, Burnley and Tottenham before joining Atletico Madrid, but seems set for a Premier League return next month.
Reports n the UK press claims that Atleti are hoping for £15million (€18m) from the cash-rich Newcastle.
Juve's Aaron Ramsey is another name that has been linked with the Premier League side with the Wales international not featuring in Max Allegri's plans for the Serie A side with many expecting Barcelona to allow Philippe Coutinho a Premier League return with St. James Park being a potential destination for the Brazilian.
Manchester United's Dutch international Donny Van de Beek is another player who could be pulling on the famous black and white stripes in early 2022 with the 24-year-old looking to end his frustrating spell at Old Trafford. Newcastle and Everton have been cited as possible destinations for the former Ajax man.