Newcastle have been linked with an interest in RB Leipzig’s highly-rated midfielder Amadou Haidara. According to The Mail, Newcastle are pondering an approach for the 23-year-old this month.
However, any move would be more practical in the summer when his £33m release clause becomes active. The report claims it could take up to £80m to pry him from Leipzig this month, which seems very unlikely. He also just signed a new contract last May.
Haidara is currently away with Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations so wouldn’t be available until next month. Midfield has taken a back seat in this window with the pressing need for a center-back and striker.
Newcastle have added right-back Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid and will soon confirm the signing of Chris Wood from Burnley. The duo will have cost around £37m which is not bad considering their vast Premier League experience.
Much of Newcastle’s remaining budget will be focused on a young striker and two center-backs. While a left-back and midfielder are on the agenda, Newcastle may wait until other areas are addressed.
Reims’ teenage sensation Hugo Ekitike is currently on the radar with negotiations ongoing. There are a number of center-backs that Newcastle are working to land. Unfortunately, the pursuit of top target Sven Botman has been blocked by Lille.
Haidara could be one to watch should Newcastle survive this campaign. His release clause will be very reasonable this summer. However, considering the need in other areas of the pitch, it seems improbable that Newcastle will spend what it takes to land the midfielder this month.

101 comments so far
Adamn_92
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:26 PM
Comment #41I can’t see us signing any players away at AFCON, could be wrong but I think we’ll look for players who can come in sooner, train with the team and be up to speed faster. Waiting for players to come back from AFCON, then start training with the team, familiarise themselves with the squad and get to grips with the way Howe wants them to start playing, don’t know if we have that time on our side. Ideally need players who can come in these next few weeks and get stuck into training asap and be up to speed with everything.
MAUTITOON
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:27 PM
Comment #42Mund
Any legs in the story that we are in the mix for the french wonderkid Hugo Ekitike?
beermonkey
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:27 PM
Comment #43its a shame the botman deal wont go through and i sort of dont blame lille
but can we get him the summer or will he have better options than is in the summer
would it be worth us buying now and loaning him to them till the end of the season
Wor B
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:28 PM
Comment #44My wife and daughter have Dyson hairdryers, £33m sounds about right.
TheTinman
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:30 PM
Comment #45AFCON is really not that long.
Players back late Jan for most teams and first week of Feb for finalists.
Not much different to signing someone in the last few days of the window.
DayvanCowboy
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:30 PM
Comment #46dazzler, blasts from the past? They are both still totally top drawer players, I mean you’ve got to be playing for mighty Chainat Hornbill F.C. in the Thai Second division or Budapest Honvéd FC right? Also, why’d we sign Trippier when we could have got the world renowned GREATEST Right back in Premier League history Daryl Janmaat? I mean we could have a problem prying him from the lofty heights of Eerste Divisie Dutch 2nd tier, I think ADO Den Haag would push a hard deal, you’d be looking at a family bag of Harribo and a giant duty free Toblerone at least!!
#inketswetrust
Mund
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:30 PM
Comment #47MAUTITOON
More than just legs what I hear mate.
Supposedly a top target now.
Time will tell as it will with any bud
check the toastie
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:32 PM
Comment #48Debuchy was a great full back. Nearly as good as Santon and Bernard
MAUTITOON
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:33 PM
Comment #49Mund
i would really have liked if we could land him here somehow,as a keen follower of yours; i’d liked to get your opinion on this
Adamn_92
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:36 PM
Comment #50TinMan
True, but depends if we want to wait that long I guess. It’s not just a case of they’re back and ready to go instantly. May be fatigued, if they aren’t from the league or country they make take time to settle, time to settle in with the players, time to get to grips with the training and style and i’m not sure but will players returning from AFCON have any quarantine time?
Raj of Hailsley
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:37 PM
Comment #51Ha ha,
What a world we live in, no wonder Sean Casey has amassed 6K followers, people asking Mund if a story has legs in it 😆
Mund
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:37 PM
Comment #52MAUTITOON
Ekitike would be a very good signing IMO
Young, talented and bags of potential. You don’t get called the next Thierry Henry for nothing. He can play off the wing as well as up top. I think Reims value him to high tho like most clubs will with there players when we come knocking 🙁
MAUTITOON
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:38 PM
Comment #53Mund
cheers mate.
The Dyslexic God
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:39 PM
Comment #54Jail, be nice, It is your birthday.
Mund
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:39 PM
Comment #55Can’t even help himself on his birthday what a sad act.
I guess I get asked not because I’m in some sort of know but because I follow everything quite close and would know more than the average fan.
I did really hope by the time you turned half a century years of age you would finally grow up, should of known better.
Ketsbaia9
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:41 PM
Comment #56Janmmat is miles better than Trippier. Faster and bigger too.
Ketsbaia9
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:42 PM
Comment #57Santon and Bernard were quality. Probably the best fullbacks we’ve ever had at the club.
ottawageordie2
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:42 PM
Comment #58Missed the bus:
It’s a laugh these idiot pundits saying we paid to much for Wood. It’s not their money. They’re just angry because every step we’ve taken in this window has been positive and a move in the right direction to stay up. They will say nothing good about us because their jealousy is consuming them.
TheTinman
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:42 PM
Comment #59Adam, definitely not ideal but I don’t think it would put them off if it was the right player.
Don’t think they would need to quarantine if jabbed but I’m not an expert.
DayvanCowboy
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:42 PM
Comment #60I’m in the wrong job if you can just recycle someone else’s transfer BS, spin it as your own ITK gossip while seemingly maintaining some credibility, saying that, I probably get paid more, so swings and roundabouts.
Munster Mag
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:42 PM
Comment #61He don’t look like a wonder kid to me but hey ho
TheTinman
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:42 PM
Comment #62Ottawa, hit the nail on the head mate
MAUTITOON
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:43 PM
Comment #63Raj of Hailsley
Many happy returns of the day Raj.All my best wishes to you.Have a great day.Enjoy xxxxx
Ketsbaia9
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:43 PM
Comment #64Could be the next David Bellion or Gabriel Obertan.
DayvanCowboy
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:44 PM
Comment #65Daryl Janmaat for Ballon d’or!
#inketswetrust
Ketsbaia9
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:44 PM
Comment #66Could do a Sean Longstaff. Be worth £50m when he signs and then drops down to £1m in 6 months.
Mag52
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:46 PM
Comment #67Trippier is miles better than Jaanmat. Slower and smaller too.
MAUTITOON
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:46 PM
Comment #68Mund
know it,your input is always appreciated and i can only talk for myself.so,kudos to you.
TheTinman
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:46 PM
Comment #69Sean Longstaff was never really worth £50m come on… you think if that was ever on the table Ashley wouldn’t have cashed in
Mund
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:47 PM
Comment #70MAUTITOON
Appreciate the kind words mate.
Ketsbaia9
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:49 PM
Comment #71We’ll sign Wood for £25m and will sell him for £250k in the summer.
Raj of Hailsley
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:49 PM
Comment #72Cheers MAUTITOON and everyone else that I’ve missed that wished me Happy birthday on the howay 50 😀
ToonDarnSarf
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:49 PM
Comment #73Happy birthday Jail! Hope you have a good celebration.
Goofy
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:50 PM
Comment #74Kets
No doubt Santon and Bernard were good for us although Bernard 2as never the same after Robert knocked him out with that rocket miscue.
If we are gonna go for any players that have been here before i’d go for Wijnaldum and Mbabu
The Dyslexic God
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:50 PM
Comment #75David Craig will not be happy to find out that he was not a good fullback. His parents lived 2 doors down from me when I was a lad! Did win our last cup!
ToonDarnSarf
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:51 PM
Comment #76Have some of you people not noticed that Kets never actually replies to anyone? He/she just churns out 90% rubbish & 10% sound stuff and then will be laughing behind his/her screen when people react…
Adamn_92
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:52 PM
Comment #77Kets
Don’t give a rats ass if we sell Wood for £1 at the end of the season if he helps keep us up between now and then.
MAUTITOON
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:52 PM
Comment #78Raj of Hailsley
if it’s not too personal,what was your toon wishes on this special day of yours,especially in regards to transfers and things alike?
DayvanCowboy
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:52 PM
Comment #79There is a guy who gets on the Sky Transfer talk these days called Kyle Walker who has a voice like Microsoft Sam, the bloke just doesn’t have a clue, saying that none of Sky Sports Transfer crew have a clue, all as bad as each other.
Goofy
Jan 12, 2022 at 2:53 PM
Comment #80Who cares about the sell on fee for Woods, these Saudis know they won’t make money from football, it’s just a toy that improves their public image and strokes their Egos. Money isn’t an issue anymore, or for the time being at least