Newcastle United is preparing for a tough January transfer window. The club missed out on key signings during the summer. They failed to bring in a right-sided centre-back or a right winger, both of which were priorities. These two positions remain important as Newcastle moves into January.
The club’s manager, Eddie Howe, wants a winger to improve their attack on the right side. However, the need for a winger has decreased somewhat because Joelinton has been playing out wide. At the same time, Emil Krafth’s injury may change the club’s plans. With Krafth out, Newcastle might need to focus on signing a centre-back. Fabian Schar has no direct cover and is under pressure to stay fit and avoid suspension.
Inside the club, there are different opinions on how much money to spend in January. Some parts of the club want to make big signings, while others are more cautious about spending large amounts. It is still unclear how much Newcastle will be willing to spend. According to Graeme Bailey from TBR Football, January could be very interesting for the club.
In a perfect world, Newcastle would sign both a winger and a centre-back in January. However, this would require the club to sell players first to fund these moves. Selling players may not be easy. Bailey has suggested that three players could be sold to help raise the funds needed for these transfers.
The players most likely to be sold are Kieran Trippier, Miguel Almiron, and Callum Wilson. Trippier’s future has been uncertain for some time. He wanted to leave in the summer, but Newcastle decided to keep him. If Trippier does leave, it would only happen if a new centre-back is signed. This would allow Emil Krafth to become Tino Livramento’s backup at right-back.
Almiron was also linked with a move away from Newcastle in the summer. The club tried to sell him, but no deal was struck, even though there was interest from the MLS. Like Trippier, Almiron’s departure would only happen if a new attacker is brought in to replace him. The same situation applies to Callum Wilson, who is in the final year of his contract. He is unlikely to be offered a new deal, and the club may look to sell him before his contract expires.
If Newcastle does decide to make these sales, it will not be an easy task. The club will need to make sure they have replacements lined up before letting key players go. If they can pull off the right transfers, January could be a successful window for the Magpies. However, it remains to be seen whether they can make the necessary moves and strengthen the squad for the second half of the season.
