The start of the Premier League season has been a mixed bag for Newcastle United fans. Off the pitch, the very welcome news that Mike Ashley would be selling the club to new Saud-based owners. However, on the pitch, it has been a miserable start to the season, as Newcastle are yet to win a Premier League fixture and are sitting in the bottom three of the standings.
Given the huge pockets that the new owners have, fans will be expecting incomings to the club in the January transfer window, but which players’ positions should be a priority should potential incoming new boss Eddie Howe have the best chance of maintaining the Magpies Premier League status?
Central Defence
There is absolutely no denying that the Magpies need a new central defender in the January transfer window. The Toon have already been linked with a number of high-quality centre halves, including Kalidou Koulibaly, who was previously linked with a move to Manchester United and Chelsea. However, a move for the Napoli man looks extremely unlikely given that the Italian giants are chasing the Serie A title.
Instead, the Magpies could target Burnley’s James Tarkowski, who will tick boxes of both making Newcastle more defensively solid, while also weakening a side that are also in the relegation scrap. The in-play game trends show what’s currently going wrong in the defence, so fans could rest assured that the new owners will be targeting a new defender as their number one priority.
Central Midfielder
One of the biggest areas for concern has been in the middle of midfield. Sean Longstaff could form a dynamic partnership with somebody, but the fact that Ryan Fraser has been playing in a middle three over recent weeks just highlights the need for a new body in that position. Isaac Hayden also isn’t of the quality needed, and with the club already letting Matty Longstaff go out on loan this season, the Magpies desperately need one or two central midfielders in the January window.
Should Howe be the man the replace Bruce, he typically played a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 during his time with Bournemouth. A new box-to-box midfielder will be the first player on the agenda. A player like Aaron Ramsey would tick this box, as he could also get goals, which are desperately lacking in this Toon side. If the 4-4-1-1 is the way that Howe will go, then an attacking midfielder could also be brought in. Jesse Lingard may fit that void, as the Manchester United man is down the pecking order at his current club, but has impressed for both the Red Devils and West Ham in the past year or so.
Striker
Goals are the name of the game when it comes to the relegation scrap. Callum Wilson certainly has the quality, and has shown that this season with four goals in six games. However, his track record of injuries means that a new striker should be brought in, especially if Howe will revert to 4-4-2. The names below Wilson are unlikely to strike fear into opposing defences, with Joelinton and Dwight Gayle both failing to take chances when they are handed to them.
Strikers are very tough to find in the current market, which means that the Toon may need to overpay. But, players such as Anthony Martial, Alfredo Morelos, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have already been linked with the club. All of which would improve the Newcastle forward line immeasurably.
Sean longstaf and a dynamic partnership should not be in the same sentence. What planet is this guy on?
Roland Stephen Sables(Quote)