Newcastle United can spend close to £200m in January and still be within the constraints of Financial Fair Play regulation. However, that type of spending is highly unlikely this winter.
The new owners have reportedly drafted a pragmatic approach to the January window and will target players with Premier League experience on expiring contracts. Burnley defender James Tarkowski and Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard have recently been named as winter targets.
Both players are on contracts that expire next summer and have so far rejected new deals. Tarkowski is said to be very keen on moving to Newcastle and could become one of the first signings of the new era.
The Northern Echo is reporting that Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette is also a winter target. The 30-year-old is in the final year of his contract and has made just two substitute appearances in the league this season.
The Sun is reporting Lacazette has no intention of signing a new deal to remain at The Emirates. So The Gunners could be open to offloading the striker in January for a nominal fee rather than lose him for nothing in the summer.
Lacazette joined Arsenal from Lyon for big money in 2017 after being on Newcastle’s radar for years. During our relegation season in 2016, Newcastle had a £19m bid accepted by Lyon in January but couldn’t tempt the former French international to Tyneside.
At the time, he said the following on rejecting a move to Newcastle:
“I read what you write in the media.
“Now I am at Olympique Lyonnais, I want to have a good second half of the season, so for me, a departure is not valid.
“This is my agent, David Venditelli, who cares.
“He knows very well that I did not want to leave, so he declined the offer.”
Lacazette has bagged 67 goals in 174 overall appearances for Arsenal. He has hit the back of the net twice this season in his two Carabao Cup appearances. At 30, he is edging towards the end of his career but could be a decent signing for the next few seasons as cover for the oft-injured Callum Wilson.
68 comments so far
Bambams
Oct 12, 2021 at 1:35 PM
Comment #41DubaiMicky
Totally agree mate, I want him nowhere near our club, he is useless.
The respect part was not intended from us, but others who are not NUFC fans.
I can see the likes of Talksport jumping all over this, ‘But Bruce knowing he was sacked stayed on to help’
I came to this theory simply after he left last night, drove past the press, returned this morning and again no talking to waiting press.
He will be doing this for the sympathy vote in my opinion, but maybe I am wrong.
Who knows mate.
Great to craic on with you again mate 🙂
Toon Tang
Oct 12, 2021 at 1:36 PM
Comment #42Im just hoping there’s a clause in brucey boys contract stating when he gets to 1000 games his head gasket blows so they’re riding it out for the time being.
niafron
Oct 12, 2021 at 1:36 PM
Comment #43@toxic lollie
Yes, life is made of dream. And anyway, there’s still a ( small ) chance, it will depend of the political context of the french federation.
RobLeenio
Oct 12, 2021 at 1:36 PM
Comment #44catchy, agreed – if Bruce hangs around for a couple more games then whatever. I’d rather it didn’t happen, but it’ll not change anything long-term, whether with the club or himself. He’ll forever forward in the eyes of the World be the guy who kept us up while the consortium completed their purchase and began their revolution, doing his hometown club a great service, honouring his Geordie roots and stepping aside with dignity when he knew it was safe to pass on the baton.
It’s only us who will remember things the way they actually were.
catchy in norway
Oct 12, 2021 at 1:42 PM
Comment #45Lee charnlee
I’m not sure what team you have been wching this season, everything you have said is made up tosh,.
We are on 3 points , yes but we have been the better team Inna few of these games we have played this season, first half against man u we were outstanding, quality up front was the difference, I thought we smashed Watford , it should have been out of sight.
I think only 1 game springs to mind this season where they deserved to lose, the others toss a coin.
On this very blog many others have said the same.
Now that’s not me endorsing him to stay on, just giving credit where it’s due
sparky55
Oct 12, 2021 at 1:43 PM
Comment #46The great thing about our current situation is all predictions / theories are a possibility, and more than likely the new owners will come up with something totally out of left field and we’ll all be scratching our heads and saying “why the fcuk didnt I think of that!”
But isnt that brilliant though!
Onwards and upwards
Sheikh rattle and roll 🙂
sparky55
Oct 12, 2021 at 1:45 PM
Comment #47Toon tang @ 42… PMSL 🙂 🙂 🙂
catchy in norway
Oct 12, 2021 at 1:48 PM
Comment #48What will be good is all these little niggles with players will all disappear, and all will want to be in that first team.
I know it’s left field this, but shearer could be asked to step in until the summer, where more managers will be available.
He commands respect.
magscar
Oct 12, 2021 at 1:48 PM
Comment #49Catchy
I have made similar point ‘re us being in games but come to a different conclusion
It wasn’t just a toss of the coin though it was poor game management coached into team, substitutions poorly made, square pegs in round holes and even wrong team – all these are capable of being addressed with same squad but better manager until reinforcements can arrive as they are definitely needed
peter5199
Oct 12, 2021 at 1:49 PM
Comment #50RobLeenio #33 you are correct. Brutal and funny
onmeedsun
Oct 12, 2021 at 1:53 PM
Comment #51This is a blog so everyone is expressing who they want as manager, and there are very differing views. Which is all fine as thankfully none of us get to make the decision. I have faith in the new owners to do their homework and to seek advice from multiple sources. And to ideally appoint a DofF before deciding on a manager. It will all happen in good time. Newcastle have made too many knee jerk decisions in the past 20 years. From now on it’s important we make good decisions, so I’ll back whatever they decide to do.
Australian Pie
Oct 12, 2021 at 1:55 PM
Comment #52For Shearer to do that he would have to give up on his match of the day role, don’t think he would do that for a short term interim gig.
I do think he will take on an ambassador role at the club though.
TheTinman
Oct 12, 2021 at 1:57 PM
Comment #53Catchy,
We have not been better in a few of the games. That’s just not true I’m afraid.
We should have won against Watford and that is it.
Our attack has been one dimensional and reminiscent of an U9s team….”Give it to Maxi” “Go Maxi, go!”
Our defence has been one of the 3 leakiest in the league. Carving through us has been easier than a warm knife through butter. The stats back it up.
And, magscar is spot on, the substitutions have not been up to scratch, some baffling and some just plain odd. We’ve gone backwards after subs more than we have gone forwards.
Australian Pie
Oct 12, 2021 at 1:58 PM
Comment #54I for one don’t mind at all if Bruce is in charge for another game or two, the only downside being that it keeps a slight negativity at the ground in what otherwise would be a perfectly positive environment.
Waited long enough to have this takeover go through, not gonna get too stressed about a manager hanging around for another week or two as we get a suitable replacement
Raj of Hailsley
Oct 12, 2021 at 1:58 PM
Comment #55Maybe there’s a clause that says if he’s in the bottom three after 8 games he can be sacked for free???
DubaiMicky
Oct 12, 2021 at 1:58 PM
Comment #56Great to see RobLeenio and Bambams back, but let’s face it, they’re just fair weather fans, left the blog when we were arguing, came back when we got sold. 😉
Glad to see you both (and many, many more) back.
magicmac54
Oct 12, 2021 at 1:58 PM
Comment #57Good afternoon fellow Toon fans
Just like a huge majority of the fans i want Bruce out the door as soon as possible, but this first managerial appointment is crucial, the new owners have just taken over and no doubt they dont want to act in haste and get it wrong, and personally i think thats the way to go folks, even if we have to tolerate Bruce for another short period, so may it be even, if its very unpalatable to say the least.
Talking of the managers we all have our favourite options, mine would not be Lampard or Gerrard underwhelming comes to mind with those two, as i said last night my 1st preference would be Brendan Rodgers, followed by Graham Potter, i also think both those two would work very well with Graham Jones, i think they would gel seamslessly in fact. HWTL
magscar
Oct 12, 2021 at 2:01 PM
Comment #58Onmeedsun
Yes agree but because we are midseason and in an early relegation battle which isn’t yet a foregone conclusion time is of the essence on certain key decisions – not necessarily a good ingredient in making best decision
I think we are seeing more and more evidence that there was a quick capitulation by PL that even took new owners by surprise
SholaShow
Oct 12, 2021 at 2:03 PM
Comment #59The biggest deficit we have is fitness. We’re blatantly not up to the minimum standard for PL football.
Bambams
Oct 12, 2021 at 2:07 PM
Comment #60DubaiMicky
Now that is the craic I have missed mate 🙂
This place is so much ‘happier’ than a couple of years ago !
Tonyd3b54
Oct 12, 2021 at 2:07 PM
Comment #61I don’t mind if they take a bit to select a coach but hope that Bruce isn’t still in charge of “tactics”. Give that to Jones. Bruce’s tactics sucked when he thought he’d be here a while. Imagine how horrible he is when he knows he’s out the door. Have him direct players to where the buffet is.
Munster Mag
Oct 12, 2021 at 2:08 PM
Comment #62Looking at it broadly, yes i would like Bruce out this afternoon, but if we are stuck for coaches, why bother? We wont be getting a new DOF and coach just yet and if his face spoils it slightly on sunday, it doesnt really matter in the greater scheme of things. If we do get Ragnick and a foreign coach – will they know who the useful and buyable players are, who ply their trade in the prem? Will the know Dunk , Traore etc . Just a thought.
Munster Mag
Oct 12, 2021 at 2:10 PM
Comment #63Shola, that may not be true, although its very believable too. Like, we were going full pelt with Leeds at the end, and they are famed for fitness? When we came back late against Everton last season, that must be predicated on fitness? I think the faults are more his defensiveness and playing ever changing formations with blokes shoehorned in. Jones may also be guilty?
toxic lollie
Oct 12, 2021 at 2:11 PM
Comment #64magscar@49
I agree. With the right direction this team can pull out of the current crap their in. Wait and see I guess.
SholaShow
Oct 12, 2021 at 2:19 PM
Comment #65Munster
Maybe it’ s mental tiredness and a lack of motivation then, just general malaise because yeah, there’s a sprinkling of matches where we look on it, but by and large we look lacklustre and fade.
Definitely more apparent in certain players than others though. ASM was consistently explosive multiple times in a match when he first arrived and while still being productive and easily our best player, he doesn’t show that raw pace on anything like a regular basis now.
toxic lollie
Oct 12, 2021 at 2:26 PM
Comment #66On a lighter note. Forgetting about managers, players or where the club is heading, how good would it be to see Keegan, Shearer and Gutierrez in the stands!
Swlabr
Oct 12, 2021 at 2:32 PM
Comment #67Shearer won’t take the job. I’m sure he’s publicly stated, (since the takeover) that ship has sailed.
Swlabr
Oct 12, 2021 at 2:36 PM
Comment #68Refectory Chugs, sorry I didn’t respond a couple of days ago. Yep, Bob Mortimer is, indeed a National Treasure. I think he more spontaneously funny than Vic too. Have you watched his fishing series with Paul Whitehouse? It’s the very definition of gentle humour.