Dean Saunders claims two Newcastle players could be replaced by ‘world beaters’ in January

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Newcastle United simply need to sign better players when the January transfer window opens.

That is the view of TalkSPORT pundit Dean Saunders, who thinks Eddie Howe is still the right man for the job at St James’ Park despite Newcastle’s recent struggles.

This is the most difficult run of Howe’s tenure on Tyneside, with the Magpies losing six of their last seven games, including the Boxing Day defeat to Nottingham Forest. Newcastle were really poor against Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, in what was a really worrying performance.

But the solution is simple for Saunders, who has named two players who Newcastle need to replace with ‘world-beaters’ – Sean Longstaff and Lewis Miley.

Dean Saunders wants Newcastle to sign ‘world beaters’

Saunders has been speaking on TalkSPORT on Wednesday morning about Newcastle’s current situation and believes that the Magpies desperately need to dip into the transfer market.

“I think they will just get better players in the positions they have got,” he said.

“In midfield they are a bit short. If you have to play Longstaff and Miley, you’re not going to win the league. So you replace them with world beaters. They can sign world beaters in midfield. They are now in Marks and Spencers shopping, they used to be in Lidl! Now they have moved up they can sign whoever they want.

“I’m sure if they let Eddie get on with his job. I think he needs to stiffen the whole thing up, get starting thinking clean sheets again, and think right I’m going to start getting some confidence back in the players before we start going after teams again. They have got a bit over confident.”

Saunders seems to get it all wrong when it comes to Newcastle

Saunders’ assessment of Newcastle seems incredibly naive. The attitude of ‘just sign better players because you’re the richest club in the world’ does not tell the full story.

It is not that easy for the Magpies to just spend spend spend, as financial fair play exists to stop that from happening. Nor is it simple to just pick up a ‘world-beater’. This is not Football Manager, this is the real world.

And it also seems a bit harsh to pick out Sean Longstaff and Lewis Miley. No, you aren’t going to win the Premier League with that duo, but we aren’t even in the title race anyway so why does that matter?

It was not too long ago that Longstaff was arguably our most important player. His form has dipped as of late, but to just write him off now seems harsh.

And when it comes to Miley, Saunders probably isn’t paying close enough attention. The 17-year-old has been spectacular since coming into the side, and has really earned his place in the XI.

Yes, Newcastle do need to sign some new players in the January transfer window. But it will not be about replacing people, it will be about boosting a squad and adding depth. And it would certainly be a shock if ‘world-beaters’ arrive, as our transfer budget simply won’t be big enough.