The Magpies are hoping to sign the midfielder from their Championship rivals.
Brentford’s Alan Judge
A report in The Irish Sun has claimed that Newcastle United are prepared to spend £10m in an attempt to complete a move for Brentford midfielder Alan Judge when the January transfer window opens, and added that the Bees are not the only team that would receive a cash boost if the potential deal took place.
The 27-year-old’s hopes of leaving Griffin Park in the summer were scuppered when he suffered a horrific leg break in a game with Ipswich Town in the latter stages of last season, but The Irish Sun are suggesting that the Magpies have not been put off by the injury, and plan to make a move in the winter.
Blackburn Rovers will be hoping that a deal does take place. The Ewood Park outfit sold the Republic of Ireland international for a second time in 2014, and The Irish Sun reports that a clause was included in the deal when he joined the Bees that means that Blackburn will receive a fifth of whatever fee is agreed.
Should the fee prove to be £10m, that would then mean that Rovers would pocket £2m, which would be an extremely welcome sum given the struggles they have endured this season.
Blackburn Rovers manager Owen Coyle will surely be hoping that a deal takes place
Owen Coyle’s men are currently second-bottom in the Championship – having won just once in their opening eight games – and if they do not improve their current form, the money they would receive if Judge does move to St James’ Park could be vital to their chances of beating the drop.
However, they will be hoping that Judge is able to find his best form when he does return from injury. It seems unlikely that Rafael Benitez’s men will be happy spending that much money if he is not able to prove as influential, especially if they are still in the promotion mix when the window does open.
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
