Newcastle United are fast approaching their first transfer window under new owners PIF – and there could be a number of signings on the way in.
Saturday’s win over Burnley was huge, but Eddie Howe needs additions to keep Newcastle up.
The Telegraph report that Newcastle are already discussing six potential signings for January.
Atletico Madrid right back Kieran Trippier is one of them.
What a signing that would be. Sure, Trippier is the wrong side of 30, but he would bring major quality to the Newcastle side.
Two centre backs are wanted too with Burnley’s James Tarkowski and Liverpool’s Nat Phillips on the radar.
Tarkowski is a proven Premier League defender whilst Phillips is desperate for a chance having been on the fringes at Liverpool this season.
It’s a similar story with the three other targets on the list.
Harry Winks is struggling for game time at Tottenham whilst Ross Barkley and Jesse Lingard are on the fringes at Chelsea and Manchester United respectively.
The general feeling with those six players is that they are better than what Newcastle currently have.
If Howe goes with a 4-4-1-1 – a system he regularly used at Bournemouth – we could see an interesting Newcastle side.
Martin Dubravka would still be Newcastle’s number one in this situation, but he could have a whole new defence.
Trippier, Tarkowski, Phillips and Jamal Lewis would represent a much-improved back line.
Howe may look for Winks to dictate play in front of defence with Barkley being able to drive forward, though that doesn’t seem all that defensively stable.
It also seems harsh to leave Joe Willock out, so maybe Newcastle would be better signing Lingard or Barkley rather than both.
Allan Saint-Maximin and Joelinton would be able to play out wide, with Lingard hovering behind Callum Wilson.
There could be more changes to come, but Newcastle could field a much-changed side after January.
Potential Newcastle lineup: Dubravka; Trippier, Tarkowski, Phillips, Lewis; Joelinton, Winks, Barkley, Saint-Maximin; Lingard; Wilson.
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