Rafa Benitez has already said the transfer planning for January is well under way and that he and Managing Director Lee Charnley have already met a few times to discuss targets.
One player we are still likely to try to sign is 27 year-old Brentford play-maker Alan Judge, who should have recovered fully from the double fracture of his right leg he suffered last April at Portman Road.
Alan Judge – a Newcastle January target?
Earlier this month Brentford head coach Dean Smith said this about Alan’s recovery:
“Alan Judge is into a stage in his rehab where he wants to keep stepping up now.”
“There’s a week or two left for the full calcification of the bone. We have to make sure he’s right before he comes back.”
Newcastle have been scouting players in Belgium and they were also seen at Lech Poznan’s weekend game in Poland with Wisla Krakow, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Playing for Lech Poznan in that game was former Newcastle youngster Tamas Kadar who played well for Hungary (36 caps) in the Euro 2016 Championships in the summer and looked an excellent left-sided player.
26 year-old Tamas Kadar at Lech Poznan
Tamas is said to have had an outstanding game against Wisla Krakow and apparently he would cost a paltry £1M, so maybe Tamas could return to Newcastle where he was for four years from 2008 – and maybe even in January?
If Rafa thinks he’s good enough then for £1M there’s very little risk to Newcastle and massive upside potential.
Nikola Milenkovic
Newcastle have also been scouting some top youngsters such as 19 year-old 6ft 5ins Partizan Belgrade center-back Nikola Milenkovic and 19-year-old RC Lens defender Jean-Kevin Duverne.
So the club may go after one or two of these top young players in January.
But it will depend largely on where Newcastle are in the Championship table by January and if we are top and even some points in the lead, then Rafa could decide he wants to draft in players for the Premier League challenge next season.
Newcastle may be able to get some good bargains in January, rather than wait until we are a Premier League club in the summer when the prices will be a lot higher.
The other advantage is that Rafa would have four months to get the new players used to his system and methods before the summer, so they will be all ready to go in August when the season kicks off.
We are not getting ahead of ourselves here, but we are pretty sure that Rafa wants to get as many points as possible on the board just as soon as possible.
That will add to the confidence with everybody associated with the club and as long as we take nothing for granted and continue to fully respect the opposition, we could be in decent shape by the end of the year.
If that’s the case Newcastle’s ambitions in January could be heightened significantly and it will become very interesting to see what kinds of players Rafa brings in at that time.
But there can be no let up at all throughout this season and we must press forward – and keep winning.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
31 comments so far
magpie6699
Oct 19, 2016 at 3:22 PM
Comment #1Just thinking about all the comments about our squad and the players we’ve bought and how “little old us”teams can’t compete.
1. We were relegated from the Premiership – we didn’t ask to be but we deserved it.
2. We had a Premiership squad (supposedly!)
3. We had to sell or loan several of our “top players” (Yeah, I know what you’ll say!!) – Gini, Sissoko, De Jong, Townsend etc.
4. We made a net profit of £30 million I think from our transfers – where does that put us in the Championship spending table??
5. Any advantage we have in attracting quality is down to 2 main factors – the reputations of Rafa and our fanbase .
6. Money doesn’t always buy happiness in terms of on-field success – as we know!
clinath@ed
Oct 19, 2016 at 3:23 PM
Comment #2Didn’t we buy Andy Cole in the February (?) of 93 to push on for the title that year, and win promotion?
Another buy like that Rafa would go down very well
JamesToon
Oct 19, 2016 at 3:50 PM
Comment #3Do we actually need anyone in january? Possibly a number 10/winger if perez and diame dont start performing?
Hail Wor Ashley
Oct 19, 2016 at 3:54 PM
Comment #4All depends on our situation in Jan.
ACON, injuries, form, league position. If everything is as rosy then as it is now, they shouldn’t be any need, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Essex Geordie Bill
Oct 19, 2016 at 4:46 PM
Comment #5Tamas Kadar, really? I think that’s pure speculation but then again we are approaching that time of year.
hibbit
Oct 19, 2016 at 4:47 PM
Comment #6JamesToon
Rafa seems a great one for forward planing if players become available that he wants / needs then yes we do
the windows 2/3 months away a lot can happen in that time and i am sure Rafa will have it covered
as fans lets just wait and see and enjoy the ride
Average_Contents
Oct 19, 2016 at 4:58 PM
Comment #7I see Leeds are giving us the full allocation available when we visit.
The’re another away game who’ve put steps in place to stop us buying tickets in the home end.
This was one of my planned jaunts.
Fcukfaces.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 19, 2016 at 5:03 PM
Comment #8I don’t know anything Alan Judge but you have to wonder why, at the age of 27 he’s only played for Championship and league one teams.
Pure speculation on Kadar but if they did resign him it would seriously highlight the ineptitude of the previous set up which is why I think it’s a non starter.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 19, 2016 at 5:07 PM
Comment #9Barnsley pubs stopped selling beer to non locals yesterday and the bar we went in had enough of us by about six of clock.
Met some Belgians from Antwerp who followed Barnsley religiously. Lunatics.
Komag
Oct 19, 2016 at 5:14 PM
Comment #10I bet Alan Judge is a hell of a Championship player. He is probably creative as hell and with blistering technique compared to a lot of other central midfielders in the league. What I do feel however is that when we are going to add to our ranks from now on we will have to add players that are good enough to be good in the Premier League. A lot of the players we have recruited this summer are talented and good additions in terms of Championship quality. But to be fair the only one that hasnt been kicked out the door deliberatly from their former club is Matt Ritchie. Therefore I suggest when we are adding to our numbers we start getting Tier 1 players and not Tier 2.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 19, 2016 at 5:21 PM
Comment #11Komag,
That’s not really true, Clarke and Diame had release clauses activated, Haydens departure prompted Wenger to make a statement on why he left. Gayle didn’t suit Pardews anti football tactics and Blackburn dug their heels in over Hanley.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 19, 2016 at 5:23 PM
Comment #12But you’re right that we need to add players good for the PL because I think that’s where we’ll be plying our trade next year.
ShirebrookToon
Oct 19, 2016 at 5:23 PM
Comment #13Yedlin wasn’t kicked out by his club either
Jail for Ashley
Oct 19, 2016 at 5:26 PM
Comment #14Shirebrook,
To be fair he was talking bollix when claiming that.
ShirebrookToon
Oct 19, 2016 at 5:29 PM
Comment #15Jail
Took the words right out of my mouth/keyboard 🙂
ShirebrookToon
Oct 19, 2016 at 5:32 PM
Comment #16To be honest I can’t see us making many moves if any for players in January. That’s if we’re top that is
hibbit
Oct 19, 2016 at 5:45 PM
Comment #17ShirebrookToon
will that not depend on who becomes available and if Rafa needs /wants them ??
MadisonToon
Oct 19, 2016 at 5:46 PM
Comment #18I think the only moves we make in January are for two types of players:
1) youngsters with promise who aren’t going to see first team football for a while and can come in anytime
2) players who will help us in the Premier League. <- we are unlikely to get any of these but Rafa will surely be on the lookout for a wise purchase (in the mold of the Diame/Clark deals)
Tbh, I don't expect much of any movement but look forward to being surprised.
As for departures, maybe Tiote will finally have gotten his move, but don't expect much else to happen – maybe a GK will leave?
ShirebrookToon
Oct 19, 2016 at 5:51 PM
Comment #19Hibbitt
I can’t see many players being made available in January that would suit us. But you just never know what Rafa has up his sleeve.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 19, 2016 at 5:56 PM
Comment #20I’ve got tickets for Preston but just found out we’ve got a Halloween party. The wife isn’t going to be best pleased.
hibbit
Oct 19, 2016 at 5:56 PM
Comment #21ShirebrookToon /
that’s when players whose contracts are coming to an end in the summer are allowed to talk to other clubs and sign pre contracts
that’s the kind of deal i’m meaning
ShirebrookToon
Oct 19, 2016 at 6:00 PM
Comment #22Hibbit
Ah right. That would be the only moves I could see us making, Pre contract signings if they fit the bill
hibbit
Oct 19, 2016 at 6:02 PM
Comment #23ShirebrookToon
sorry mate didnt explain that very well !!!
ShirebrookToon
Oct 19, 2016 at 6:03 PM
Comment #24Jail
Buy a Halloween outfit and get someone else to wear it and pretend it’s you. That way the wife’s happy and your happy lol
ShirebrookToon
Oct 19, 2016 at 6:05 PM
Comment #25Hibbit
No worries mate. But again. All this talk of transfers etc depends on where we stand in the table in January
Jail for Ashley
Oct 19, 2016 at 6:05 PM
Comment #26I know you can’t take anything for granted especially after the Wolves game but I can’t see us losing that top spot again. Norwichs failure to hang on to a two goal lead shows they are vulnerable and their squad simply isn’t a match for ours, we’ll have secured a playoff spot by March and automatic promotion by April and crowned Championship before May 1st.
hibbit
Oct 19, 2016 at 6:07 PM
Comment #27ShirebrookToon
total agree
top would be nice LOL
ShirebrookToon
Oct 19, 2016 at 6:07 PM
Comment #28Be nice for us to go unbeaten from now til the season ends. But I can’t see it happening. I’ll keep my fingers crossed though lol
ShirebrookToon
Oct 19, 2016 at 6:09 PM
Comment #29Hibbit
We have the squad to keep the momentum going so hopefully we’re still there or there abouts
Komag
Oct 19, 2016 at 9:38 PM
Comment #30Jail,
Well I put it a bit blunt. Diame was a good Championship player last season, so was Hayden. Hanley is captaining Scotland so I guess his quality is somewhat proven. But he was still Championship material.
Clarke made all the Villa fans I know clap their hands and circle jerk cause they got 5 million for a fringe player.
By all means…I think they were all great captures. The thing is that we will need quite a few players with international top class if we are to create problems for anyone in the top 10 next year. Thats what I feel at least 🙂
Sav
Oct 19, 2016 at 10:36 PM
Comment #31Ed, I think Alan Judge is going to be your next obsession, isn’t he? You honestly think here is the bloke we are going to pin our creativity hopes on when we are (hopefully) back in the Prem? By which time he’ll be 28 having never got out of the lower divisions. See how I didn’t even mention his career-threatening injury from which no-one can say if he’ll make it back to his best or not.