Steve Bruce’s tenure at Newcastle United is officially over and the new Saudi-led consortium will name a new manager who will have a wealth of funds to spend in January.
But with the Magpies sat ominously in the relegation zone, signing big players on big wages from some of the biggest clubs in Europe is probably going to have to wait until the summer.
After Mike Ashley decided against stumping up the loan fees required to bring the likes of Axel Tuanzebe and Hamza Choudhury to St James’ Park in the summer, Newcastle have two domestic loan spots they can fill in January.
Here is a look at some Premier League players Newcastle could target….
Ross Barkley
After spending last season out on loan at Aston Villa, Barkley returned to Chelsea this summer and failed to secure a move.
The England international has only played 36 minutes of football under Thomas Tuchel this season and could be available in January.
With Ruben Loftus-Cheek ahead of the former Everton man in the Stamford Bridge pecking order, Barkley is going to have to move if he has any aspirations of getting back into the England side.
Barkley has the versatility to play across the midfield and would add some much-needed creativity to our side.
Harry Winks
Winks was ever-present under Mauricio Pochettino, but since the Argentine left Tottenham, the 25-year-old has struggled to impress Jose Mourinho and Nuno Espirito Santo.
With the former Wolves manager seemingly preferring Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp as his midfield pairing in the Premier League, Winks is having to settle for UEFA Conference League game time.
Newcastle are desperate for a midfielder who wants to get on the ball, dictate the game and knit the rest of the team together.
After reported interested in the 10-time England international over the summer, Newcastle should test Spurs’ resolve in the new year.
Jonjo Shelvey’s headless chicken performance against Winks’ side on Sunday didn’t do him any favours and Winks would be a massive upgrade on Newcastle’s number eight.
Donny van de Beek
The Dutchman’s time at Old Trafford has been nothing short of a disaster and he looks in desperate need of a move to reignite his career.
With six minutes of Premier League football to his name so far this season and a torrid run of fixtures ahead, it’s highly unlikely that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is going to reinstate the former Ajax midfielder.
Out-of-favour for his country under Louis van Gaal, Van de Beek has to move in January to salvage his career and a move to Tyneside could be the perfect springboard for that.
The 24-year-old would bring an injection of energy and technical quality to our midfield and with him having a point to prove, Newcastle could benefit from Van de Beek playing regular first-team football.
Malang Sarr
Despite making an impressive Premier League debut for Chelsea in the win against Brentford, with everyone fit Sarr is probably Tuchel’s sixth-choice centre back.
He could well be kept for emergencies like against Brentford, but if everyone is fit and available, Sarr is unlikely to make the matchday squads.
Now that the 22-year-old has had his first taste of Premier League football, he will be chomping at the bit for more top-flight action.
Resolving the league’s worst defence will be the new manager’s priority and bringing in Sarr would bolster a backline that urgently needs reinforcements.
Sarr was linked with a loan move to the Magpies in the summer.
Eddie Nketiah
Beyond star duo Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson, Newcastle carry next to no goalscoring threat.
And with the former Bournemouth man’s fitness issues capable of resurfacing at any time, the new manager is going to want to add more goals to his team.
Arsenal’s Nketiah hasn’t played one minute of Premier League football this season and although he’s out of contract at the end of the season, the 22-year-old isn’t going to want his last season at the Emirates just fizzle out.
His only appearance under Mikel Arteta this season brought a goal in the 3-0 Carabao Cup win over AFC Wimbledon.
With 16 goals from 17 England Under-21 games, Nketiah is the Young Lions’ all-time top goalscorer and he would add an injection of firepower to this Newcastle team.
Depending on the new manager’s approach, there could be every chance that they could see a way to fit Saint-Maximin, Wilson and Nketiah all into the same team.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
