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Turkish Less than a week after the Saudi Arabian-backed £305m takeover of Newcastle United was completed, rumours around potential January transfer window signings for the North East club have surfaced with fans and media both sharing their opinions on who they would like to see in Newcastle and who the club could potentially sign.
In the background, several other Premier League clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, continue to voice their disapproval around Richard Masters’ decision to let the deal go through with a Premier League meeting arranged to discuss matters, without the attendance of Newcastle United representatives.
Whatever is discussed in that meeting, it will not change anything regarding the takeover which was completed on Thursday 7th October 2021. Therefore, it’s all go at St James’ Park as they begin their search for new players (and a manager) who can take the club to new highs.
Newcastle United Potential Signings
Despite the club becoming one of the richest on the planet overnight, we’re unlikely to see the likes of Lionel Messi or Kylian Mbappe arrive in the North East in January. Given Newcastle’s dreadful start to the season in which they have picked up just 3 points from a possible 21 and are without a win in their first 7 games, the players that they bring in will be aimed at keeping the club up with a bigger rebuild of the squad scheduled for the summer. However, that’s not to say that there won’t be recognisable names putting pen to paper in January as the new owners simply can’t afford to get it wrong and being relegated for the second time in six seasons won’t be seen as an option.
So, who are the potential candidates to walk through the door at St James’ Park in January?
Phillipe Coutinho (Barcelona)
Ex-Liverpool midfielder Coutinho could perhaps be Newcastle’s biggest signing of the season should it happen. Since his £105m move to Barcelona in January 2018, the Brazilian international has had a terrible time and was loaned out to Bundesliga club Bayern Munich for the 2019/20 season. He returned to Barca the following season to play under new coach Ronald Koeman but given the state of the La Liga clubs finances, it’s possible that they could be willing to part with him.
Coutinho scored 41 goals in 152 appearances during his time in the Premier League with Liverpool and the 29 year old could relish the chance to regain that form in a league he knows well.
Coutinho is one fo the bookies favourites to arrive at St James’ Park in the January transfer window at odds of 6/1 with online bookmaker Betfair.
Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)
Lingard has been on United’s books since 2011 but has been passed around multiple clubs on loan deals from not long after that. The 28 year old has struggled for regular first team football at United and has had spells at Leicester City, Birmingham, Brighton, Derby County and West Ham.
Since arriving at West Ham in January of this year, Lingard has regained his form, finding the net 9 times in 16 appearances for the Hammers. He’s also been recalled to the England squad and if he wants to be included in the Southgate’s group that travel to Qatar next year, he needs regular pitch time and as he is now back with United, a permanent move to Newcastle could provide him with just that.
Lingard has been on Newcastle United’s radar for some time now with the club trying to lure the England midfielder on a loan deal in January. With the new owners ready to open their wallets, that could turn into an offer to purchase which could be tempting for both Lingard and United.
Lingard is currently priced at 9/1 to sign for Newcastle before 3rd February 2022 with Paddy Power.
Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
Gareth Bale is another player that has recently been out on loan and spent time with his former club Tottenham Hotspur having spent seven years playing for La Liga side Real Madrid. Shortly after returning to Madrid, Bale picked up a long-term hamstring injury which has seen him miss the majority of Madrid’s games this season along with several of Wales’ World Cup qualifying fixtures.
It has been reported that Newcastle have Bale on their list of potential signings but whether or not a deal will materialise before the summer is in doubt.
Bale would be a marquee signing for the new owners but it’s likely that they’ll have to dig deep to cover the Welsh star’s wages given that he currently earns £25m on Real Madrid’s books. However, his hefty wage bill may be the reason Madrid will let Bale go as it would free up significant funds to potentially sign their top transfer target, Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint Germain.
Bale has bagged 11 goals in 20 games for Spurs since rejoining the club he left in 2013, proving that he is still capable of performing in England’s top league.
Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal)
Alexandre Lacazette has spent four years at Arsenal during which time the French international has scored 50 goals for the club and so has proven his ability and gained experience in the league. His contract expires at the end of the season and given how Arsenal are underperforming this season, Lacazette could be tempted to move on sooner rather than later to a club that has a bright future ahead of it.
Donny van De Beek (Manchester United)
Since moving from Ajax to Manchester United over a year ago, Donny van De Beek has played just 20 games for his club with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær often opting to start matches with the Dutch international on the bench. The 35 year old midfielder cost United around £35m and given that he is not getting regular game time, a generous offer from Newcastle United’s new owners who have deep pockets could be tempting for the club.
For van De Beek, a move to Tyneside would allow him to play on a weekly basis. Something that initiated a potential loan move to Everton in August which failed to materialise.
