Sports
Newcastle transfer rumours as January window approaches
Newcastle United have been linked with a huge number of players since the Saudi-led takeover of the club and are expected to bring major reinforcements to Tyneside in January.
With just a few days left until the transfer window opens, Eddie Howe will have a list of names he aims to bring to the club and has a reported £190million at his disposal.
The lack of quality in defensive areas is highlighted by the clubs position in the Premier League. Newcastle sit 19th, with the second-worse defensive record this campaign having shipped 42 goals in 19 games.
DEFENDERS
Trippier (£30m+) and Tarkowski (£3m+)
English defensive duo Keiran Trippier and James Tarkowski have been widely tipped with a move to St James’ Park and would be welcomed with open arms by the Geordie faithful.
The Atletico Madrid full-back is expected to be available for around $30million, while Burnley’s Tarkowski is heading into the last six months of his current contract and would cost the club in region of £3million.
Sven Botman (£25m+)
Dutch defender Sven Botman is thought to be top of Howe’s list and his ball-playing abilities would certainly suit the new managers attacking approach. He currently plays for French side Lille and has represented his country at both u21 and senior level. Botman is expected to cost the Magpies over £25million but would be a huge improvement on the current options at Howe’s disposal.
Boubacar Kamara (20m+)
Newcastle are expected to make a dramatic bid to sign Marseille midfielder Boubacar Kamara from under the noses of Premier League rivals, according to the Sun on Sunday. He would massively improve the side in the defensive midfield department and is deemed as one for the future, available at over £20million.
He would certainly bring a good song to sing for supporters – “Bouba Kamara, what a wonderful name…”
Other rumours in the media:
- Newcastle are reportedly keen on signing Arsenal flop Konstantinos Mavropanos in a bid to bolster their defensive options in January (The Sun, December 15).
- Newcastle are among the clubs looking to sign Tottenham centre-back Joe Rodon on loan during the January transfer window (Daily Telegraph, December 22)
- Oleksandr Zinchenko is on Newcastle’s list of January targets as Eddie Howe attempts to keep them in the Premier League (Daily Mail, December 26).
- Everton’s Lucas Digne is another who has been discussed but the Frenchman is holding out for other clubs showing interest.
MIDFIELDERS
Jesse Lingard (£20m+)
The Manchester United man is yet to feature from the start under Ralf Rangnick and is approaching the final six months on his contact.
Newcastle will have a fight on their hands to capture the 29-year-olds signature and given the success he had in his loan-spell at West Ham, they are the current favourites to sign him. Lingard is reportedly available for a fee of around £20million, unless he decides to stay at United a sign a new contract.
He certainly has the quality needed to help the Magpies survive relegation and could join the club on a 6-month loan as one of two available Premier League loans in January.
Dele Alli (£22m+)
The 25-year-old England international has been out of favour for a number of months at Tottenham Hotspur and is yet to reach the same heights of previous years under new boss Antonio Conte.
Newcastle are one of a number of clubs linked with the attacking midfielder who has shown in the past his Premier League ability. There is still time for him to rekindle his carer on tyneside and he could play a key role in Howe’s side.
He is expected to cost the Magpies approximately £22million and might improve the productivity of the side in attacking areas.
Gini Wijnaldum (loan)
The 31-year-old knows the city well, already has a good relationship with the fans and enjoyed a decent spell for the Magpies between 2015-16.
Newcastle need stability and lack quality in defensive areas. WIjnaldum would also improve the team in attacking areas and may be just what is needed to help the club change its fortunes on the pitch.
If he moves, Wijnaldum is expected to join a Premier League side for the remainder of the season and Newcastle United may be the right fit for the veteran midfielder.
Aaron Ramsey (£10m+)
After lengthy spells on the sidelines he is yet to form a friendly relationship with Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri he is thought to want a move away from Turin and back to the Premier League.
His £400,000k a-week salary could be make or break for some clubs and puts Newcastle at the top of the list to sign him following the Saudi-led takeover of the club.
His experience of the English game and versatility in the midfield could help change the fortunes of Newcastle this season. Ramsey is expected to be available for around £10m but his high-wage might put a lot of clubs off chasing his signature.
Other rumours in the media:
- Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny has emerged as a possible January target for Newcastle (The Sun, December 10).
- Brest midfielder Romain Faivre believes he would cost Newcastle around £15m should they turn their interest in him into an actual offer (Daily Express, December 4).
- Donny Van de Beek, Dean Henderson and Jesse Lingard are on Eddie Howe’s radar in January as Newcastle look to strengthen for the second half of the season (Daily Mirror, November 12).
- Newcastle and Burnley are set to compete with Leeds for the signature of Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley (The Sun, November 23).
- James Ward-Prowse – Southampton’s dead-ball maestro who has always felt destined for a big move one day – could a role as the linchpin of the Toon Army’s first iteration of newly-moneyed galacticos tempt him into leaving his boyhood club?
ATTACKERS
Odion Ighalo (£10m+)
Odion Ighalo is one of a number of strikers Newcastle United are looking at ahead of the January transfer window. Ighalo, who has had previous spells in the Premier League with Watford and Manchester United, is currently playing for Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia and has the experience to help Newcastle at the top end of the pitch.
Sky Sports News has been told he would seriously consider a move if contact is made. Ighalo scored 40 goals in 100 appearances for Watford between 2014 and 2017 and netted five times in 23 games for United during his year-long spell at the club.
He is expected to be available for a fee in the region of £10million.
Gabriel Barbosa (loan/ £17m if Toon survive)
Newcastle are interested in a loan for Brazil international forward Gabriel Barbosa after Benfica refused to sell Darwin Nunez in January.Toon boss Eddie Howe is desperate for more firepower to boost the Magpies’ Premier League survival hopes.
According to the Mirror Football, Flamengo are “open to a six-month loan in January if it includes a £17million deal to make it permanent” should Newcastle retain their Premier League status.
Moussa Dembele (£30m+)
The 25-year-old had a spell on loan at Atletico Madrid last season after they agreed a £1.2million loan fee with option for a £30m transfer.
The French striker had a successful spell at Celtic a few years ago and has a decent goalscoring record, netting 36 times in 82 appearances for French side Lyon.
He started the French season well with four goals in five games suffered a thigh injury then a fractured right fibula. He has returned to Lyon’s side recently but the French club are open to selling if they receive a suitable offer.
Other rumours in the media:
- Newcastle are willing to pay a hefty loan fee of around £6m to tempt Manchester United striker Anthony Martial to St James’ Park, and are also eyeing ex-Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko (Sun on Sunday, December 18).
- Newcastle have reportedly tabled a nine-figure bid for Arsenal target and Serie A top scorer Dusan Vlahovic (Daily Star on Sunday, December 18); Newcastle are hoping to flex their transfer muscles against the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United and beat them to the signing of the Fiorentina striker in a deal that could top £100m (Daily Express, December 17);
- Almeria will not budge from their £60m price tag for striker Umar Sadiq, one of dozens of players to be linked with a January move to Newcastle (Daily Express, November 24).
- Newcastle’s hopes of signing Divock Origi on loan from Liverpool are set to be dashed by Jurgen Klopp (Daily Mail, November 24).
Thoughts? What areas do Newcastle need to improve? Who would be your first signing? Can Howe’s reinforcements help keep NUFC in the Premier League?
Join in the conversation and have your say…
The Sunderland job has become available recently following the dismissal of Beale a brief 12-game stint, highlighted by a significant defeat to Newcastle and a more recent 1-0 loss to Huddersfield Town, pushing the club’s decision-makers to reconsider their strategy. This decision came after the controversial firing of Tony Mowbray in December. Despite hopes for improvement, Sunderland’s form remained lackluster, as evidenced by a 2-1 defeat at home to Swansea City, leaving them trailing in the playoff race.
Scott Parker, previously at the helm of Clubb Brugge, finds himself unemployed since last season. Now, the former Newcastle United leader emerges as the unexpected leading candidate to take over Michael Beale’s role at Sunderland.
While discussions regarding Sunderland’s new managerial appointment had temporarily subsided, betting circles have reignited interest, placing former Newcastle captain Parker as the surprise favorite.
Parker, whose English football managerial career last saw him at Bournemouth—where he was dismissed early into the 2022-23 season despite securing promotion—also led Fulham to Championship play-off victory in 2020. However, his history with Newcastle could create tension among Sunderland fans, considering his leadership role there in the mid-2000s following Alan Shearer’s departure.
Historically, figures like Sam Allardyce and Steve Bruce have managed both sides of the rivalry. In the betting markets, Parker leads with odds of 7/4, surpassing other contenders like Frank Lampard, Will Still, and Paul Heckingbottom.
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Sunderland have terminated the contract of manager Michael Beale after a brief tenure of only 12 matches, a decision fueled by recent controversies including his refusal to acknowledge a player’s handshake and comments about his accent. Beale’s departure marks the second managerial change for the club this season, following Tony Mowbray’s exit in December. During his stint, Beale led the team to three victories, four draws, and five defeats.
The decision to relieve Beale of his duties followed Sunderland’s recent 2-1 loss to Birmingham, leaving them in tenth place in the league, four points shy of the playoff positions. Tensions escalated when Beale notably ignored defender Trai Hume’s attempt at a handshake during a substitution late in a game, a move that did not sit well with fans and was exacerbated when footage of the incident spread on social media. Beale later apologized, stating he had not noticed Hume’s gesture, and praised the player’s commitment and professionalism.
Beale’s time with Sunderland was marred by fan dissatisfaction, which intensified after he made comments addressing criticism he believed was influenced by his South London accent. He defended his professional journey and the team’s performance under his guidance, suggesting that the criticism was unfounded and not solely based on footballing reasons. Beale emphasized his commitment to his role and the unfairness of personal attacks, advocating for a focus on football-related critiques.
Pressure had been mounting on Beale in recent weeks with fans fuming at the weekend after he snubbed a handshake with player Trai Hume. As the defender was subbed off in the 87th minute he put his hand out and waited for a high five from his gaffer. But Beale did not even acknowledge the player and appeared to ignore the 21-year-old. The manager has since apologised and claimed he did not see his out-stretched hand. Unfortunately for Beale, things have only got worse for him after a clip of Hume being given the cold shoulder went viral online. The player walked past and put out his hand for a handshake, only for the Sunderland boss to look straight past him. The clip garnered a huge reaction on social media, with some even demanding that the former QPR and Rangers boss be sacked. Beale has now responded to the incident on his own social media account with a statement. He wrote: “Trai Hume is a fantastic player for our club. He gives everything for his teammates and the staff. I wasn’t aware that I missed his handshake until being asked about it post game. I immediately went to see him to apologise. “Trai passed a fitness test this morning to play the game and I cannot hold him in higher regard as a man or professional. He is an example of everything that is good about a young footballer and our team.”
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Wor Flags, a fan-funded group supporting Newcastle United, made a powerful statement ahead of the team’s recent 4-4 draw with Luton Town. They used a pre-match banner displayed in the Gallowgate End to protest against what they perceive as “disgusting” kickoff times imposed on the Magpies by the Premier League and television broadcasters. The banner boldly read, “TV before fans,” accompanied by smaller flags showcasing some of the club’s inconvenient kickoff times in recent weeks.
Among the examples highlighted were Newcastle’s 8 pm match against Liverpool on New Year’s Day, an 8:15 pm kickoff at Villa Park on a Tuesday, a 7 pm FA Cup match away at Fulham, and an 8 pm fixture at Arsenal. Remarkably, this season, Newcastle has only been granted one 3 pm away game. Nevertheless, their dedicated fans have continued to support the team despite these challenging kickoff times.
This protest took place during the Premier League’s “Green Football Weekend,” aimed at encouraging fans to consume more plant-based meals to reduce carbon emissions. Many supporters have noted the irony of this campaign, given the frequent air travel undertaken by Premier League teams while fans often struggle to use public transportation for late kickoff times dictated by broadcasters like TNT Sports and Sky Sports.
Following the unveiling of the banner, Wor Flags issued a statement, emphasizing their dedication to raising awareness about the inconvenient kickoff times imposed by broadcasters in both the Premier League and the FA Cup since the start of the year. They argued that this situation contradicts the spirit of the Green Football Weekend, which certain broadcasters are celebrating.
The statement read: “Today’s display in the Gallowgate is dedicated to highlighting the disgusting kickoff times that have been imposed on us by broadcasters in both the Premier League and the FA Cup since the turn of the year, making a mockery of the Green Football Weekend celebrated by certain broadcasters. Newcastle United fans are some of the most passionate and loyal supporters around, committed to following our team across the country. It is this dedication and passion that is taken for granted by TV companies and football’s governing bodies. So far this season, we have only had one Saturday 3 pm away kickoff.”
The statement continued, “The cost of being a football fan is constantly rising, with increased expenses for trains, buses, and fuel for cars making it an expensive endeavor. Yet, the persistent disregard for match-going fans in scheduling kickoff times is placing immense strain on supporters. While we continue to fill away ends, we have not forgotten about those fans priced out by the greed in the game, those who initially made English football so attractive to a global audience.”
“Late announcements of games to accommodate broadcasters and television viewers have a profound impact on the fans, who are often described as the lifeblood of the sport. We are calling on broadcasters, the Premier League, The FA, and the clubs to do more for match-going fans. Put an end to unsocial kickoff times, make travel more equitable for fans, and halt the greed,” the statement concluded.
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