Late Tuesday, news emerged that Newcastle were pushing to have multiple signings completed early next month. The report, by The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards, named Atletico Madrid right-back Kieren Trippier as the most advanced so far.
However, Edwards revealed that other deals were in progress as Newcastle hope to get in reinforcements as quickly as possible. The hope is we can have some new signings in place for the match against Watford on the 15th of January.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has been tracking Newcastle’s transfer targets. He posted the following update on Twitter last night.
Newcastle are still working to sign Kieran Trippier who's out of contract in 2023 – Atletico are waiting for the official bid. He's top of the list with 2 more options. ?? #NUFC
Newcastle are looking for right back, left back & centre back [Sven Botman, depends on Lille plans]. pic.twitter.com/NIDCfVJU9A
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 30, 2021
Along with Trippier, Lille center-back Sven Botman is considered a top target for January. The 21-year-old has excelled since joining the defending Ligue 1 champions in the summer of 2020 from the famed Ajax Academy.
The issue with both Trippier and Botman could lie with their willingness to join a relegation fray. There have been indications that Trippier would be open to the move. Earlier reports cited an escape clause was being discussed should Newcastle get relegated.
The Mail is now reporting that Botman is also open to a move to St. James’ Park. Simon Jones is reporting that Newcastle are ramping up negotiations with Lille over their star defender.
The center-back would cost Newcastle around £30m. The key information to glean from this report is that Botman is keen to make the move. Here is some of what Jones writes:
Botman is understood to be keen to come and talks intensified on Wednesday as Newcastle strive to find an agreement with Lille.
Newcastle have some work left in convincing Lille to part ways with Botman mid-season. They are currently on an unbeaten streak and rising up the league standings. They have also qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
AC Milan are also interested in Botman but can’t compete with what Newcastle are willing to offer. The report also names Trippier and Everton left-back Lucas Digne as other top targets.
74 comments so far
Raj of Hailsley
Dec 30, 2021 at 11:38 AM
Comment #1Op,
They got us up before and kept us in the PL for five seasons.
G
Dec 30, 2021 at 11:38 AM
Comment #2Heard Digne was off to Chelsea
August Landmesser reincarnate
Dec 30, 2021 at 11:41 AM
Comment #3Jail
I wouldn’t flog everyone in one go, I’d move 3 or 4 on this window if possible.
TBH I don’t see it as possible.
Gayle maybe a great Championship striker but clubs aren’t breaking our door down to get him.
Can’t say why, if you think he can score enough goals for promotion you’d think his wages would be no issue considering the money gained from promotion and the PL.
Others I can understand, can’t see people wanting to pay top wages to Clark or a cpl others.
Im of the feeling we’re discussing something that probably isn’t going to happen, we’re stuck with a few of these players unless we pay off contracts.
Time will tell.
Tim the toon
Dec 30, 2021 at 11:43 AM
Comment #4Repost, bus moved on
Not sure why people are worried about us freeing up space in the squad for new signings?
If we sign say 5 players, we just don’t register 5 of our existing players in the new squad. The cost of wages from 1 Jan to 30 June would be about 6 million quid, which is small fry in the bigger picture. Relegation would cost a whole chunk more.
Raj of Hailsley
Dec 30, 2021 at 11:45 AM
Comment #5Op,
We need to free up five or six squad places. Clark is the only one I’d sell. Hayden, Longstaff, Gayle, Woodman and Gillespie to go out on loan.
Raj of Hailsley
Dec 30, 2021 at 11:47 AM
Comment #6Tim the toon,
That’s also an option, personally I’d rather they were getting playing time somewhere.
August Landmesser reincarnate
Dec 30, 2021 at 11:50 AM
Comment #7Jail
Hayden is injured by the looks of it.
WLtoon
Dec 30, 2021 at 11:52 AM
Comment #8So Trippier isn`t in the bag as some were claiming yesterday, just another feed of BS to fill the tabloid pages or something to write while waiting for some real transfer window news.
As for Ake, he is ok playing for Citeh, doesn`t need to stress himself doing what he is paid for which is defending with his back against the wall, but in a side like ours where we concede lots of possession he would be a nightmare under pressure, makes too many mistakes, i think he would be a liability.
Botman would be my choice ahead of Ake but he is still suspect when getting turned.
Sule would be my first choice but i doubt he would entertain a move to us atm.
Tim the toon
Dec 30, 2021 at 11:55 AM
Comment #9Raj
Sure is, but the fact is we have some players who are not likely to play for us before March at least – Wilson, Hayden, Fede?, Lewis? In our position, can we afford to keep spots in the squad for them.
Also, we have at least 1 slot available by reducing number of goalkeepers; I’d register 2 x GK, and if can draw on the reserves for a youngster if necessary – doesn’t take up a spot in our 25.
Bills Son Is Back
Dec 30, 2021 at 11:58 AM
Comment #10I hear Dembele has stalled on the new contract that was reported as agreed with Barca.
Wonder if we’ve offered him a stack more?
sparky55
Dec 30, 2021 at 11:58 AM
Comment #11Time to be brutal just like when the Arab money bought into Man City…clear the decks and buy in more than we need…you never know who might come to the fore from your squad, so the more quality you have, the more chance we have of staying up.
We can only loan 2 from the Prem, not sure how many we can loan from abroad, so it looks like we’ll have to buy quite a few to give us the strength and depth we need to survive.
so clear out as many as we can, and buy in as many as we can…it’s the only sensible but brutal solution.
August Landmesser reincarnate
Dec 30, 2021 at 11:59 AM
Comment #12Bills
Someone mentioned £600k+ a week yesterday.
Unbelievable
DubaiMicky
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:01 PM
Comment #13Nice little article on 2021 by some bloke on a plane I occasionally drink (lots of) beer with.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1995476/sport
Bills Son Is Back
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:02 PM
Comment #14I’d consider making a £50M bid for Cornet to Burnley.
Has shown already he can score in the Prem and we’d weaken them.
Won’t happen though.
Black'n'White'n'BroonAllOver
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:02 PM
Comment #15On the Ake debate… I always thought the best CB partnerships were made up of one tough as teak, no nonsense player and one cultured player who can see AND pick a pass.
I’m not sure Ake is either of these things, but he does have good positioning, seems to be an intelligent footballer, and despite not being the tallest is pretty good at clearing crosses. All of those things are glaring weaknesses in our back line and have been for some time.
As others have said, I think we need to build sensibly, signing players who’ll be good for us right now, not CL players with no appetite for a battle who come just for the money.
I reckon Ake could be a solid signing to play alongside Schar, although I’d also like another CB to compliment him, ideally someone quick and comfortable with the ball at his feet.
Raj of Hailsley
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:02 PM
Comment #16Tim the toon,
I didn’t treatise about Hayden, yes, some players are going to have to be just left out.
Bills Son Is Back
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:03 PM
Comment #17OP
From us or Barca?
Tim the toon
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:06 PM
Comment #18Bills
Cornet going to Afcon, no point in signing.
EH has said all along the core of the current squad will need to get the job done; he understands that at best we can bring in 3 or 4 players, and not create too much disruption for the whole squad.
I think if we brought in say 6 players, we would not have sufficient time to bed them all in.
Sir Pugalot
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:08 PM
Comment #19Bills, I like the idea to get Burnley to pay £50m for a player they already have lol… I know it was a mistype
Sir Pugalot
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:10 PM
Comment #20Tim we need 5. 2 CD’s, 1 RB, 1 AM, 1 Striker
Sir Pugalot
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:10 PM
Comment #21I do agree, getting them synchronised will be a problem
Sir Pugalot
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:12 PM
Comment #22I like and admire CW, but as Debby Harry once sang, “he has a calf of glass”
Sir Pugalot
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:12 PM
Comment #23Debbie
Mund
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:13 PM
Comment #24Craig Hope
@CraigHope_DM
Paul Mitchell, Monaco sporting director & ex Spurs, has close links to Nolan Partners, recruitment firm leading NUFC DoF search. Always likely he’d be spoken to. Dan Ashworth also has history with Nolan but Brighton playing down talk of imminent move to NUFC. Process ongoing…
Mund
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:13 PM
Comment #25TheOther14
@Other14The
·
9m
Leaders in Combined Tackles and Interceptions per 90 from TheOther14 in the #PL season so far.
@Other14The
Wilfred Ndidi for
@LCFC
at the top.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FH2q3QJXEAILc77?format=jpg&name=large
DubaiMicky
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:17 PM
Comment #26Hayden out for 2 months after knee surgery.
Will he ever play for us again?
“Isaac Hayden appears set to miss the next two months after the midfielder underwent knee surgery, adding to Newcastle United’s mounting injury and COVID-19 issues.
The 26-year-old missed Monday night’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United as he served a one-match suspension, but club sources have confirmed that Hayden has also undergone an operation to correct a knee problem.
Hayden posted a picture on Instagram showing his knee in a supportive cast with the caption, “My new best friend for a while.” The midfielder missed the final nine games of last season with medial collateral ligament damage, although he did not have surgery then.
It is understood that Hayden is ruled out for January at least, and likely February, too.”
CLINT FLICK
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:20 PM
Comment #27We should just go and buy 1 or 2 key players from every club, then stick em on a shelf, just to weaken them…like clubs used to, back in the day.
😀
Ok, maybe not…
It wouldn’t be be the first time they changed the rules because of us.
😉
August Landmesser reincarnate
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:22 PM
Comment #28Bills
No idea, someone mentioned it as his wages.
Tim the toon
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:25 PM
Comment #29Pug
Not sure I agree; we defo need a DM if Hayden is out for two months – we have enough cover at AM, especially now with big Joe.
For the rest if we get Trippier, we get flexibility because him and Manquillo can both play on either side, because we are short at LB.
If we get a decent CB, one would be enough; obviously we need a CF.
SPRINGY
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:27 PM
Comment #30Guessing thats why they brought matty back to have a look to see if he can fill the gap haydens ganna leave
Sir Pugalot
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:29 PM
Comment #31medial collateral ligament damage
You never fully recover from that. I know personally!
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:29 PM
Comment #32Tim
I made the same point a few days ago, with the money the consortium have, then a few players out of the squad but still here is no big burden for them.
Buy new and then worry about moving on any players we no longer can fit into the squad.
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:30 PM
Comment #3335 Hours 30 Minutes to the Transfer Window opening.
Sir Pugalot
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:31 PM
Comment #34Tim, the further back Billy Joel plays, the better he is, Put an attacking MF in front of him because, with the best will in the world, he cannot hit a barn with a banjo.
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:33 PM
Comment #35Perhaps Kelland can fill a gap for us, been performing well on loan.
Sir Pugalot
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:34 PM
Comment #36WE can’t pay £30m for a right back and play him as a left back. As welllll yeah knowwww would do.
But Manq can do LB, Dummett is in training. Which of our current CB’s would you keep if only buying 1 in?
Sir Pugalot
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:36 PM
Comment #37The best Hayden can do after that injury is lower Championship
Tim the toon
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:37 PM
Comment #38Pug
I love what big Joe is doing, but I don’t think he can play in front of a back 4.
One of our problems has been the space between midfield and the back 4 – we need an experienced DM to manage the positioning of our midfield on the pitch; I don’t think that we get the best out of Joe if we give him that responsibility.
Sir Pugalot
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:37 PM
Comment #39I did play 3 (then) current world champion squash players after my injury. They all beat me!
Sir Pugalot
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:39 PM
Comment #40Tim, it is a problem, but worth trying, Billy is not an AM as he cannot score. I think it is worth an experiment