With the Premier League January transfer window only a few days away, it looks like Newcastle United are having some problems.
The Magpies sit at nineteenth in the table heading into a slew of Christmas' fixtures. A squad shakeup was inevitable in January given their financial backing.
According to Sky Sports reporters Keith Downie and Lyall Thomas, new boss Eddie Howe has created a wish-list of transfer acquisitions.
The difficulty is that most of the players being targeted are reluctant to sign for the club. Given Newcastle's first half of the season, there's little room for optimism.
Howe and his backroom team are now trying to decipher whether they should go all out - or go long term with a trip to the Championship in mind.
Newcastle Transfer Woes
It's a difficult task for any manager and Howe hasn't exactly set the world alight in his first few weeks in charge. A tough fixture list is partly down to that.
The meetings of Leicester City, Liverpool and Manchester City in Newcastle's last three ended up in eleven goals being conceded and no points earned.
But is the lure of money enough for players these days? It's increasingly difficult for The Magpies given the fact a World Cup is on the horizon in 2022.
According to Sky Sports reporters, the situation doesn't sit well with most players in joining a regelation battle as opposed to playing at a top tier club.
Newcastle are seriously interested in signing Sven Botman in January. He's top of the list - but still waiting to know Lille position/price tag. AC Milan are keeping tabs on Botman situation too 🇳🇱 #NUFC #Lille
Sevilla, Wolves & Atalanta were in talks to sign Botman last summer. pic.twitter.com/gB0ED8eGvN— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 13, 2021
The Newcastle midfield needs to be addressed and reports suggest Swiss international Dennis Zakaria and Marseille's Gerson are on the top of the list.
Newcastle have been looking abroad to bolster their defensive options too. Jason Denayer of Lyon, Sven Bottman of Lille and Matthias Ginter of Mönchengladbach are all linked.
What about transfer targets for the long term? Or in the event of relegation? Howe and co are preparing for all inevitabilities it seems.
The likes of Blackburn's Ben Brereton and Sheffield United's Sander Berge are also on the cards as well as Joe Rodon at Tottenham and Mason Holgate at Everton.
There's also the option of going for loans in January. Newcastle have been linked with a number of young Premier League assets to acquire temporary improvements.
(☀️) Manchester United’s interest in Kieran Trippier 🏴 remains but Newcastle are also looking at a deal for the England international. [@TheAthleticUK] #MUFC pic.twitter.com/gCc9y1XTHP
— RouteOneFootball (@Route1futbol) December 23, 2021
The most heavily linked player since the Saudi Arabian takeover is Atlético Madrid's Kieran Trippier. The England international has been rumoured to mark a return to the Premier League.
Newcastle are 'increasingly confident' they can make Trippier their landmark signing, whether it be in January or when his contract expires in the summer.
It comes as former Celtic man Nick Hammond has joined Newcastle United as director of football with a look towards a fresh outlook in the transfer market.
If the Sky Sports reports are anything to go by, it's only going to add to the intrigue for the upcoming January transfer window.
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