Ahead of the summer transfer window, Newcastle United needed to sign a centre-back and a right winger.
Eddie Howe is now looking towards the January transfer window, and his Newcastle United squad still needs another centre-back and a right winger.
The failures of the summer transfer window is hurting the Magpies right now, after Paul Mitchell failed to make a major signing during his first transfer window as sporting director.
Alan Shearer has claimed that Eddie Howe was not backed, and that needs to change in January.
What Newcastle are targeting in January
There should be money to invest, given the fact that Newcastle were willing to spend more than £60million on Marc Guehi in the summer before that deal collapsed.
However, while Guehi was the priority in August, January could be different. It has been reported that Newcastle’s priority is to sign a winger, with Eddie Howe desperately in need of someone who can compliment Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon in attack.
But Newcastle could still target Guehi, who could be on his way out of Selhurst Park next year. It has been reported that Crystal Palace are resigned to selling Guehi in 2025, which could present Newcastle with an opportunity in January.
Whether Newcastle will be able to complete two major transfers
But it is an opportunity that Newcastle might not be able to take.
That is because, according to the Athletic, Newcastle will almost certainly not be able to sign both a winger and a centre-back during the January transfer window.
They report that it is extremely unlikely that Newcastle will be able to sign players for both positions, with a winger probably taking priority.
Newcastle right to prioritise a winger
Newcastle are right to prioritise signing a winger over a centre-back in January. In truth, it is hard to understand why the club thought differently during the summer when they went all in on Marc Guehi.
Neither Jacob Murphy or Miguel Almiron have proven why they should be starters for Eddie Howe’s side, while the Newcastle United manager is reluctant to play Anthony Gordon on the right to accommodate Harvey Barnes.
Right wing is the one position that has been neglected since the change of ownership. When every player is fit, you could easily argue that it is the only missing piece of the jigsaw.
On top of that, Newcastle’s need for another centre-back could soon be negated by Sven Botman. He is currently out of action due to a knee injury, but Eddie Howe has stated that Botman could be back in late December. If that proves to be the case, a new centre-back is not so urgently required.
But just because Newcastle are going to prioritise signing a winger in January does not mean that they definitely will. The Magpies will only bring someone in if the right player is available at the right price. There will be no panic buys.
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