Newcastle United and Aston Villa went into the season as two of the favourites for promotion from the Championship.
Danny Higginbotham has told Sky Sports during their live coverage of Bristol City’s match against Brighton & Hove Albion, that he expects both Newcastle United and Aston Villa to spend heavily in January.
Newcastle and Villa went into the season as the two promotion favourites, but Brighton are currently proving to be strong contenders for a top two spot.
The Seagulls made it to the play offs last term, and they appear to be determined to go one step further this time around.
However, Higginbotham fears that second placed Brighton could be caught – as both Newcastle and Villa will spend big in the new year.
“I think Newcastle are going to spend big, I think Villa will too,” the pundit said. “I think teams that are up and around there are going to. When you look at Brighton, you think possible they need another centre-forward.”
If Newcastle do spend in January, it will be a show of intent that they do not intend to relinquish their grip on a top two spot.
Newcastle appear almost certain to be promoted this term, after a stunning run of form has taken them right to the top of the Championship.
Villa, on the other hand, began the campaign poorly, but Steve Bruce’s appointment appears to have galvanised the Midlands side.
Bruce is still unbeaten since taking charge at Villa, and the claret and blues are now in 14th place in the second tier standings.
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