Newcastle supporters are probably the most eager in English football for the transfer window to re-open, so their new Saudi-led owners can work their magic.
All the talk has been about the potential incomings at St James’ Park and the money the club can splash next month.
But whilst Eddie Howe needs new faces to turn his relegation-threatened ship around, he also needs other under-performing stars to leave.
It’s quite clear that a number of these Newcastle players simply aren’t good enough to keep the club in the division and here we take a look at three players that need to be sold:
Ciaran Clark – If Clark wanted to show his new manager that he won’t be replaced that easily at Newcastle, with all the money flying about, then he is going the wrong way about it.
After getting sent off early against Norwich for stupidly pulling back last-man Temmu Pukki, he then forgot to head the ball and gifted Manchester City an opening goal last week.
The Magpies need defensive cover and it’s obvious that Clark will be replaced, and as a result, it’s best he started afresh elsewhere.
Karl Darlow – More error-prone performances from Darlow have seen him drop to the club’s bench once more.
The goalkeeping department has been another problem for Newcastle and it’s another area Howe will be targeting in January.
If Newcastle sign the goalkeeper they want, then that would mean current number one, Martin Dúbravka, dropping to the bench.
That would then push Darlow out of the squad and just like Clark, he would be better off leaving next month and trying to forge a new path in his career.
Jamaal Lascelles – During Newcastle’s most difficult of times, Lascelles just hasn’t produced and the blunt of the matter is that he needs to be replaced.
If Newcastle can get a fee for the 2014 Alan Pardew signing, either during the winter or summer transfer window, then it would be best for all parties.
Lascelles may well be a key figure in the St James’ Park dressing room because he wears the armband, but he simply hasn’t showcased that out on the pitch.
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