Newcastle already eyeing West Ham and Nottingham Forest players for the summer

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Newcastle United are set to be short of right-wingers when the January transfer window closes.

Some Newcastle United fans will be happy to see the end of the transfer window as the Magpies are yet to make a single signing for the first-team.

With Miguel Almiron now officially an Atlanta United player, Newcastle need more bodies on the right side of the attack to keep their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League high.

Eddie Howe’s side are currently sat fifth in the Premier League which could be enough to play in Europe’s top competition next season if the English clubs keep performing as well as they are.

Sporting director Paul Mitchell has shifted the focus on Tyneside regarding recruitment. Now, Newcastle will target young players from overseas in an attempt to find cheaper hidden gems across the continent.

The strategy has already been put to work in recent months. Georgian striker Vakhtang Salia will join Newcastle in August when he turns 18.

While Mitchell’s strategy is in place, Newcastle will want to sign players domestically if the price is right. Newcastle are admirers of Tyler Dibling, but his £55m price tag is not something the Magpies can currently afford.

Howe needs reinforcements and he could look no further than a Premier League duo that Newcastle have tried to sign before. Ben Jacobs has said exactly what Newcastle must do to have a chance of signing them.

Newcastle United need Champions League to sign Anthony Elanga and Jarrod Bowen

Newcastle have transfer history with both Anthony Elanga and Jarrod Bowen. Mitchell made a deadline day approach in the region of £50m for Elanga. Nottingham Forest knocked back that approach.

Bowen nearly joined Newcastle in 2020 before signing for West Ham where he has thrived, winning the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2023.

Speaking on the NUFC Matters Transfer Show, Ben Jacobs toyed with the possibility that the pair’s stance may change if Newcastle qualify for the Champions League and Nottingham Forest don’t.

West Ham look set for a mid-table finish this season which may give Newcastle the impetus they need to get a deal done.

“All of the attacking-minded, mostly right-sided players. Your Anthony Elanga’s your Jarrod Bowen’s even though he recently signed a West Ham deal,” he said.

“They’re there as well. And I think everyone’s talking about ‘what if Newcastle don’t get Champions League football what will happen to the big stars?'”.

“Why not be more positive about it and say what happens if Newcastle do get Champions League football?

“You’ve got a situation where if (Nottingham) Forest don’t (qualify for Champions League) or if West Ham are mid-table mediocrity – do some of the players who rebuffed the approach from Newcastle or do some of the clubs that were not prepared to sell change their mind.”

Jarrod Bowen’s statistics compared to Anthony Elanga

There is no doubt that signing either Elanga or Bowen in the summer would improve Newcastle’s attacking options. While Jacob Murphy has performed well this season, there is a worry that he may not continue his good run of form.

The 29-year-old has scored three goals and bagged eight assists this season – his best-ever attacking return for the club.

Neither play has set the world alight this season, but they have still had their fair share of goal involvement.

Bowen is currently out injured but could return when West Ham take on Chelsea on Monday. Elanga has featured in every Premier League game for Nottingham Forest this season, playing alongside former Newcastle players Elliot Anderson and Chris Wood.