Sky Sports reveal new list of Toon transfer targets as Saudi consortium face January dilemma

Sky Sports have released an in-depth piece on Newcastle United's search for new signings ahead of the January transfer window.

Keith Downie reveals that Eddie Howe has drawn up a long list of potential targets, but claims the club 'have found between a rock and a hard place as they try to balance the short-term task of survival and a longer-term vision that may include the Championship.'

It's said several players are 'reluctant to join a relegation fight' and 'even more keen to avoid playing in the second tier during a World Cup year.'

It remains to be seen if they can be convinced, but Sky Sports name Lyon's Jason Denayer, Lille's Steve Botman and German international Matthias Ginter as centre-back options, with Swiss star Dennis Zakaria and Marseille's Gerson two central midfielders we're showing interest in. Zenit striker Sardar Azmoun is also said to be a target, as Howe looks to combat our overreliance on Callum Wilson.

However, with it feared that such top European talents may opt against a move to Tyneside, Sky Sports claim we could be forced to look at Premier League players on the lookout for game time and/or top Championship players capable of making the step up - or mucking in next season IF we do go down.

As a result, it's thought we have looked at Tottenham's Joe Rodon and Everton's Mason Holgate, with Blackburn's Ben Brereton Diaz - the Championship's second top-scorer with 19 goals - a second tier target along with Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge.

Kieran Trippier is also named as one of the club's top targets. They report that we are 'increasingly confident' we will convince the right-back to sign next month, but reckon a host of other Premier League clubs are also keen on the Atletico Madrid man.