Newcastle's dream four-man January transfer shortlist revealed

FT Desk

• 10 Nov 2022 12:11 GMT
• 3 min read

Newcastle have received an €80 million cash injection from their Saudi Arabian owners, and manager Eddie Howe now has four names at the top of his January shopping list.

Howe has done an impressive job with the players he already has at his disposal this term, steering the Magpies up to third in the Premier League table as we approach the mid-season break for the World Cup in Qatar.

Newcastle became the world's richest club when a consortium led by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund bought Mike Ashley out for £305m (€350m) in October 2021, but attributing Howe's success simply to money wouldn't be entirely fair.

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For example, The Toon's record signing, the €70m Alexander Isak, only played three Premier League games before injuring his hamstring. It is in his position, at centre-forward, where Howe will strengthen first.

Isak replacement

The Daily Express report that Chelsea youngster Armando Broja is a target who could now be available. "The Blues wanted close to £40m (€45.75m) in the summer window but the Albania international has struggled for starts under Thomas Tuchel and new boss Graham Potter," they write. Andreas Schjelderup of FC Nordsjaelland would be a cheaper alternative.

— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) January 15, 2021

Isak won't play again until after the World Cup while Callum Wilson's own injury record makes the signing of a striker more likely, but Newcastle also plan to bolster their midfield with two players - James Maddison and Yannick Carrasco - also reportedly in their sights.

READ: Newcastle to demand world record fee for Bruno Guimaraes

Bruno Guimaraes has emerged as perhaps the best midfielder in the league not called Kevin De Bruyne while Joelinton's emergence in the position having been a misfiring striker has been impressive, but more penetration is needed, which is something the Leicester and Atletico Madrid players should help with.

Maddison was linked in August and has since had 10 goal-involvements in 12 games with Leicester despite the Foxes' struggles, while Belgium winger Carrasco could be available after Atletico Madrid's early Champions League exit. He left before - for Dalian Professional in China - when they needed to alleviate financial pressure in 2020.