I am from Mauritius, a long time supporter of Newcastle United for some 30 years and counting. I would be grateful if you could publish my first ever article on The Mag.
January transfer window : Who should we be looking to sign?
The January transfer market is usually described as a nightmare for Managers.
Some hate it for the capacity of seeing some players having their heads elsewhere right in the middle of the season.
Agents active to find new clubs for their frustrated clients and even for those who are not, if a good offer comes along…
Newcastle United is not new to it and we have been doing many transfers during this window, particularly under Mike Ashley.
Ideally, Eddie Howe would prefer not to be trying to make significant signings in January. However, the recent cascade of injuries hitting the team and especially our defence, means a potential need for one or more new faces.
As always, the medias keen to name plenty of claimed transfer targets, with agents happy to help drive this speculation.
What is the reality though for Newcastle United, which position(s) might need strengthening and which individuals should we maybe consider?
My thoughts are that most pressing is the need for another central defender, plus cover for Tino Livramento and/or Lewis Hall who are injury prone, plus another striker.
Centre-back
A young prospect could be Charlie Cresswell who is at Toulouse. The 23 year old Englishman was previously at Leeds and has played 18 matches and scored three goals this season. He is a starting first choice for the French club and a regular threat on set-pieces. The guy is doing well and will put in some shift at the back, as well as learning from the more experienced Schar and Burn, until they leave. Won’t cost as much as many other defenders have done in recent times when Premier League clubs have recruited.
At Atalanta, Giorgio Scalvini is another who could be considered now, or most probably in the summer. The 22 year old Italian looks decent, very composed and reads the game very well. Though he hasn’t played a lot this season, eight games, due to injury, he has solid experience and some games in the Champions League.
Jamaal Lascelles looks to be leaving and will be followed at some point by Schar and Burn, so we need to refresh our defensive department and getting one or two decent prospects, ideally by giving one or more of them the next six months to adapt.
Cover at full-back
Zinchenko can play on both sides and could be a good back up for them, though the Ukrainian is normally a left-back.
We do not have proper left back cover for Lewis Hall, unlike Tino with Trippier and now Miley.
Zinchenko is a proven experienced PL player (Man City, Arsenal, Forest), well-regarded and Forest now planning to end his loan.
He is experienced, often used as a cover, aged 29 and knows where he stands now, could step into our clubs and won’t stop the development of Hall, who is playing maybe his best football right now. I believe we can get him on a loan if Forest is going to cut short his current one. Could be the next Kieran Trippier for us.
Another striker
With two forwards currently struggling to score goals on a regular basis and rough diamond Osula on the sidelines, we are thin up front. Especially if either Nick or Wissa got injured.
Gordon or Barnes can be played as striker but we all know this is not their best position. Another frontman could prove to be more than essential with the tough schedule of matches every weekend and midweek.
Jorgen Strand Larsen would cost a fair bit, as is the case with most players signed from other Premier League clubs, but the Wolves striker brings more physicality than Nick Woltemade, though quite the same style.
Ideally we need someone offering something a bit different from what Newcastle United have currently, to cope tactically.
American Folarin Balogun, 24, eight goals this season from Monaco, played for Arsenal before, is a striker with pace, able to play alone as a number 9, holds the ball up well and could be interested to come in, if the right offer is put on the table. He is similar to Alexander Isak in the way he play.
We have to admit here that Isak was pivotal to our system and having a player who can spark the same thing in our team will be good for us. We offer something more than Monaco, firstly in terms of atmosphere, but also as we sit actually in a better place in the Champions League, than them. An aspect that many players out there will actually look to, particularly those quality fringe players hoping to make it to the coming World Cup.
There is also Argentinian Joaquin Panichelli at Strasbourg. He is 23 and has already scored 12 goals this season, his first season in the French league after joining from second division Spanish side Alaves. He is physical, technically good, passionate and never gives up. He can score from crosses in the air and always looking to shoot. Has been called up recently for the Argentina national side, which demonstrates his quality, knowing the competition out there. Might be quite a tough affair to bring him to Tyneside, as Strasbourg won’t let him go easily following the recent signing of club captain and striker Emanuel Emegha for Chelsea next season. Maybe though able to follow the likes of Coloccini and Gutierrez, and to a lesser extent Federico Fernandez, as Argentine successes at Newcastle United.
Speculation will continue in the media and no doubt many more names added as supposed Newcastle United targets.
The next fixture on Sunday at Molineux may indicate just how urgent it is to sign a new player or two, fingers crossed no additional injuries to our medical room.
This is also the perfect time to see what Ross Wilson can do as well.
Giovanny Cotte – A Mauritian fan supporting the toon for 30 years.
(Wherever you are in the world, all Newcastle United fans are welcome to contribute to The Mag. Send in your articles to contribute@themag.co.uk and there is guidance on submitting an article if you want to have a look)
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