According to the Northern Echo, Mike Ashley plans to revert back to his old transfer policy after backing Steve Bruce with a few senior signings over the summer.
The report states that should Mike Ashley remain owner of Newcastle United by the January transfer window, he plans to pursue ‘promising youngsters with potential sell-on value’ – not players approaching their 30’s like Callum Wilson or Jeff Hendrick.
The Echo then name a player in that very bracket who’s already been identified as a target heading into the new year – Middlesbrough’s highly-rated Djed Spence.
Scott Wilson’s piece states that Newcastle’s recruitment team have been drawing up a shortlist of targets who could be stars of the future at St James’ Park, and it’s believed Boro’s Spence features high up on our wanted list ahead of the January window.
The versatile wide man – who can play at right-back, wing-back or on the right side of midfield – has burst onto the scene on Teeside over the past two seasons and is now on the verge of a call-up to England’s U-21 set up.
Spence may have also impressed Steve Bruce and Co over the summer, with him featuring in Boro’s 5-1 win over our first-team just a few months ago.
Boro will be reluctant to sell on of their star men now they’re 5th in the table and eyeing promotion under Neil Warnock, however the Northern Echo believe we may ‘ test the water’ with a January bid given so many EFL sides have been hit financially by COVID-19.
They also report that a long-term right-back is also on our radar, with Krafth yet to convince at Premier League level, Yedlin on his way out and Murphy deemed more of a winger by Steve Bruce.
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