Toon could launch two late bids as Yasir Al-Rumayyan arrives on Tyneside - Luke Edwards

The Telegraph's Luke Edwards has issued a potentially exciting update on Newcastle's transfer plans heading into the final week of the January window.

Speaking on the BBC's Transfer Gossip Daily podcast, he believes Newcastle are the club to watch over the coming days, revealing that we are expected to launch late bids for Everton's Amadou Onana or Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White if we can secure a sale to boost our finances.

He could "definitely see that Onana deal happening" if we sell one of Callum Wilson or Miguel Almiron over the next week, feeling the club will test Everton's resolve. However, the Blues' £60m asking price will need to come down.

Edwards accepts that key players like Onana or Gibbs-White will be tough to prise away so late in the window, yet we could look to capitalise on their very own financial issues now Everton and Forest currently under investigation for a breach of FFP rules.

The North-East reporter adds that Yasir Al-Rumayyan has been on Tyneside over the past few days - a clear sign that we're ramping up our transfer plans - with club officials are 'working round the clock' to bring in a midfielder following a season-ending injury to Joelinton.

Read everything he had to say in a Newcastle-focused section of the BBC podcast:

"It was actually myself who revealed Newcastle's interest in Onana for The telegraph this month. I've always thought that's a hugely complicated deal to do £60 million. It is a lot of money to try and cough up in January when we've talked about PSR.

"I think what's interesting about this is Newcastle haven't actually managed to sell anyone. There's been a lot of talk. We've had Trippier to Bayern Munich, we've had Wilson to clubs in Italy (AC Milan), I think that was wishful thinking. Miguel Amiron to a club in Saudi Arabia. We've heard all this talk, but actually the only player they've managed to get rid of is Javier Manquillo to Celta Vigo and I don't think they got any money to him.

"So I don't think Newcastle's finances have been boosted enough as yet for that Onana deal to happen. I think if Newcastle sell someone before the end of the month, I could definitely see that Onana deal happening.

"I don't think they will go as high as £60 million. But then obviously, you know, Everton have got to haggle. They paid a lot of money for him in the summer of 2022 from Lille, £33 million, I think so, they'll need to make some money off it.

"I think it's a very, very complicated deal, but I think every single deal now is complicated. Do Newcastle need another central midfielder? Absolutely. Are they working round the clock to try and get that midfielder in? Yes. The last information that came back to me was that it was proving pretty fruitless, but I think they will at least have a little dabble at Onana before the close the window, whether they sell anyone or not.

"I think if they do manage to sell somebody, I think it'll be a toss up between wherever they go for Onana or Morgan Gibbs-White at Nottingham Forest, but both of those players incredibly hard to prise away.

"We just don't know how much financial pressure Everton are under. We know they've they've been hit with this second charge of breaching PSR rules. We know they've got one hanging over and they're appealing the first punishment, but they do have this prospect of another points deduction hanging over them. Do they need to get their affairs in order to sell somebody this month? That has been a rumour in football but I don't know that for sure.

"I think Newcastle will probably test them and see you know how willing they are to fight to hold to Onana or do they need the money this month.

"Onana won't be cheap for Newcastle, but he is a good fit to replace Joelinton, in the short term and potentially the medium term if Joelinton doesn't sign a new contract. So there's a lot of attraction there.

"It is my understanding that Newcastle is Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan has been in the UK the last couple of days speaking to the Newcastle board. Are they going to sanction you know, a big money move?

"The money would come from from Saudi Arabia's public investment fund. Whatever Newcastle do now would come off their summer budget, but they do need a central midfielder. I think Newcastle are the club I expect to give us the most drama, and the most intrigue as we head towards deadline day."