With finances as they are at Newcastle currently signing Everton’s Aaron Lennon and Islam Slimani of Leicester on loan is the best they can hope for.
Islam Slimani of Leicester City evades Markus Schwabl of Fleetwood Town during The Emirates FA Cup Third Round Replay at The King Power Stadium.
Manager Rafa Benitez is scouring the loan market with finances limited under the current ownership of Mike Ashley and a proposed takeover looking increasingly unlikely to be completed before the end of the month and the window shutting.
Rafael Benitez, manager of Newcastle United, reacts during the Premier League match against Swansea City.
The Magpies can bring in two loanees during January and clearly Lennon and Slimani are the prime targets as Benitez looks to improve his faltering attack.
The Toffees winger is out of contract in the summer and could therefore be a good free transfer if he performs well, with an exit from Goodison Park likely following the signing of Theo Walcott from Arsenal and the return to full fitness of Yannick Bolasie.
Aaron Lennon of Everton during the Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur.
Slimani, meanwhile, has fallen out of favour at Leicester under boss Claude Puel and this season has started just one Premier League match.
In truth, with the financial situation as it is currently a St James’ Park and Newcastle’s failure to make any new signings so far this month, landing the duo on loan is probably the best outcome the North East outfit can hope for currently.
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