Newcastle United will soon turn attentions to the January transfer window.
Though there is a huge amount of football to be played between now and then, Newcastle need reinforcement.
Even if the injury crisis currently decimating Eddie Howe’s squad were to subside, they will still be without big summer signing Sandro Tonali.
That leaves the midfield – the one position Newcastle went out to significantly strengthen with a potential regular starter this summer – light.
Unsurprisingly, then, a priority ahead of the window has emerged.
Newcastle transfer news: January priority emerges
According to The Athletic, midfield is seen as the priority ahead of the New Year sales.
Though the signing of another centre-back as well as the potential arrival of a versatile attacker have reportedly been discussed, it is the centre of the park that takes precedence.
Still, that doesn’t mean the club will be getting a like-for-like replacement for Tonali. Ruben Neves has been linked but it appears that won’t be happening.
FFP constraints are still believed to loom, making life a lot harder in the transfer market.
Newcastle transfers: January window a huge one
While last season was something of a free hit for Howe, the expectation levels have been raised.
Not qualifying for the Champions League again would have to be seen as a disappointment, as well as an early exit in either of the domestic cup competitions. Furthermore, a Europa League campaign could well be a possibility too.
With that in mind, there is much more pressure on this January window than the last.
Rather than signing players for the future in the likes of Anthony Gordon and Harrison Ashby, Newcastle might need to get first-team-ready players capable of hitting the ground running to ensure they can keep competing.
Quite how they do that FFP issues is up for debate and adds yet more difficulty to the task at hand.
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