Craig Hope reveals the player sales needed before Newcastle can start buying again

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Newcastle United have struggled to buy players in recent transfer windows.

In fact, Newcastle’s business last summer proved so underwhelming that club legend Alan Shearer publicly declared owners PIF had “failed” manager Eddie Howe.

Luckily, the Newcastle United manager has helped paper over the cracks this season – albeit consistency remains an issue.

• READ MORE: All of Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United signings, ranked

Wins over Chelsea, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest have helped raise morale heading into the return of Premier League action after the last international break of the calendar year.

Still, few would doubt that Howe could do with signings in January. It has been a while since his first-team squad has been strengthened significantly and the owners are reportedly targeting a top-six finish this season.

To do that without signings is clearly not impossible but will be difficult for Howe.

Sadly, it seems there isn’t a huge amount of money to spend. The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope last week revealed that big money signings were unlikely without selling players.

The prospect of having to sell big name players before buying again first emerged in the build-up to last January before proving a major theme of Newcastle’s summer window.

None of the club’s prized assets have yet left but Anthony Gordon was reportedly close to joining Liverpool, such was the need to try and balance the books on the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability (PSR) front.

Writing in The Daily Mail on Thursday, Hope shared some insight.

Disappointing January transfer update emerges at Newcastle

Hope revealed that Newcastle will need to sell players before they buy again, although it is perhaps not quite as disappointing as first imagined.

He claims that a “big sale” is not needed at this stage and that “smaller deals” will suffice to balance the PSR deficit and potentially unlock further funds down the line.

Who could Newcastle sell in January?

Miguel Almiron looks an obvious candidate, despite his agent suggesting the forward could stay and see out his contract. Hope has previously claimed the player does have interest from abroad amid links with Argentine giants, River Plate.

Kieran Trippier is another. The veteran has lost his place to Tino Livramento of late and is said to be attracting interest from AC Milan.