Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is already drawing up plans to bring in a centre-half and a midfielder during the January transfer window, as reported by The Athletic.
Howe hasn’t even arranged the furniture in his new St James’ Park office. But it seems the former Bournemouth boss is wasting little time as he prepares for a transfer window which could be the making or breaking of his Magpies career.
Get January right and Newcastle, with their billionaire Saudi Arabian owners, will still be gracing Saturday night’s on BBC One next season.
Get it wrong, however, and it will be Colin Murray on Quest introducing their highlight packages instead.
Howe, then, will be looking to make the most of a transfer window, which could conceivably be labelled one of the most important in Newcastle’s modern history.
Fortunately, he will be backed by an ownership group with the bite to match their bark.
It is understood that Steve Bruce’s successor will be given a warchest to the tune of £50 million in January, with The Athletic claiming that a centre-half and a midfielder are right at the top of his wish list.
Who will Eddie Howe sign for Newcastle United in the January transfer window?
Few on Tyneside would disagree with Howe’s stance.
Only bottom-of-the-table Norwich City have conceded more goals (26) than Newcastle (24) in the Premier League so far this season.
A lack of power, presence and poise in the centre of the park is another bone of contention, with Bruce having missed out on a host of midfield targets including Boubakary Soumare, Soualiho Meite and Leicester City’s forgotten man Hamza Choudhury.
Newcastle have been linked with England international defender James Tarkowski – who has rejected the chance to extend a Burnley contract that is due to expire in July – while Ross Barkley, Marcelo Brozovic and Harry Winks have also been mentioned as potential incomings.
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