A new year and the Premier League is finally about to witness exactly how desperate football’s new nouveau riche club are to stay in the top flight.
That’s because the January transfer window is now open and, following months of speculation, many are waiting to see what Newcastle United will do next and, perhaps more pertinently, who can it manage to attract.
Even with newly acquired untold riches, it can take a club a few years to be able to attract the calibre of player associated with success.
Just ask the other three wealthiest clubs in European football – Manchester City, Paris St Germain and Chelsea. The dominant spells they have enjoyed over the past decade and a half didn’t happen straight away.
And mark my words, all three clubs were in a much healthier position than Newcastle when their respective billionaire owners arrived on the scene.
On saying that, with a few quality acquisitions this month, the Toon Army should have enough to survive a top-flight which the likes of newly promoted Norwich and Watford look ill-equipped for.
So, who is likely to move to Tyneside this month?
Well, no end of players have been linked and such speculation is to be expected.
I think two talented attacking players should be ruled out straight away, despite the rumours suggesting they could move to the northeast.
France international Anthony Martial wants to leave Old Trafford, according to his agent, having started just two Premier League games this season.
Likewise, Dele Alli continues to see opportunities limited at Spurs and the Englishman has started just eight league games so far.
But will interim Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick really want to let Martial go given the top four chase is on, not to mention involvement in cup competitions, in what he acknowledges could be a Covid-impacted second half of the campaign.
Similarly, Alli may well get more chances to play under new Spurs manager Antonio Conte and was certainly trusted in the North Londoners’ recent 2-2 draw with Liverpool.
Then there is Brentford captain Pontus Jansson who has been in fine form in his side’s maiden Premier League campaign and whose contract runs out this summer.
The Sweden defender would command a decent fee were he to leave this month, having started all 19 Premier League games for the Bees so far.
Yet why would the club sell midway through the season? They would surely rather even risk losing their skipper for free in the summer, as long as top-flight status has been secured.
Let’s focus then on potential deals which seem more likely.
For example, Ainsley Maitland-Niles is said to be “irritated” with his bit-part role at Arsenal and the Gunners could be under pressure to sell the England international in January.
Such a move would also mean he is reunited with Joe Willock who, while not shining since making the move permanent this season, certainly caught the eye while initially on loan in the second half of the last term and played a key role in most of Newcastle’s Premier League highlights.
If Maitland-Niles could have a similar impact on Tyneside, then Newcastle would likely climb the table quickly.
Likewise, Jesse Lingard was terrific for West Ham on loan during the second half of 2020/21 and, as it stands, is not getting regular league football at Old Trafford, bar a couple of appearances from the substitutes bench.
Lingard actually scored against Newcastle as a second-half substitute in September.
One move which seems a good bet and would strengthen the squad – although the position is hardly a priority for Eddie Howe – is a move from England full-back Kieran Trippier.
He has been described in the media as Howe’s number one transfer target this month and the former Burnley and Tottenham defender has a £34 million release clause in his contract.
A deal in the region of £25m is expected to be finalised after Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone appeared to abandon realistic hope of keeping him in the Spanish capital.
Although Trippier started Atlético’s 2-0 home win against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, he appeared to wave farewell to the crowd at full-time and was the last player to leave the pitch.
Acquiring another defender may prove tougher after French club Lille reportedly rejected an offer for Sven Botman.
The Dutch under-21 centre-half has recently broken into his country’s senior squad and the French club appear determined to keep the 21-year-old. Although Lille have financial difficulties, they are in the knockout stages of the Champions League, eighth in Ligue 1 and believe Botman remains vital to their European ambitions.
One thing that is certain though is that, with frontman Callum Wilson out with a torn calf muscle, Howe is now in the market for a centre forward and a centre midfielder, as well as defenders. All will be revealed over the next four weeks and the incomings or otherwise are likely to have a significant impact on the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds.
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