As we have been informed for months, Newcastle’s January actions will be influenced by our position in Europe at the end of the season.
Sadly, we finished last in our Group F and are now completely out of Europe. We were not even able to qualify for the Europa League.
Eddie Howe has informed us that while the original idea was to do nothing in January, we have experienced severe injury difficulties ever since.
However, since the team is only participating in two local tournaments this month—the FA Cup and the Premier League—we suspect significant moves will be made in January. If any players are added, they will likely be on loan agreements with the possibility of a purchase.
This season, Hugo Ekitike, a French attacker, and Kalvin Phillips, an England central midfielder, both play for Manchester City.
Ekitike has just made one appearance in Paris this season and has no future at PSG.
July of last year saw him sign a contract with PSG.
PSG signed the guy in the summer, but it’s unlikely they’ll be able to recover their investment in the striker, who stands 6 feet 2 inches tall.
Eddie Howe, who was a big fan of the Frenchman, will only consider loaning the young player if he believes he can bring out the best in him.
If Kalvin Phillips, an England international, wants to be included in the England team for the 2014 Summer Olympics in Germany, he has to see some playing time.
But do we really need Kalvin for the rest of the season when Sean Longstaff is back from injury, Lewis Miley is playing well, and Joe Willock should be back by mid-January?
Guimaraes is available.
These days, Newcastle is very shrewd when it comes to transfers, so if there’s a player available in January who might end up being a long-term acquisition, we’ll probably go for a loan with the option—not the requirement—to buy.
We wouldn’t be shocked if hardly one showed up in January given how slowly the games are going and how players are recuperating from injuries.
Before May 19, which is the last game of the Premier League season, we have 21 league games and at least one FA Cup match left.
Then, in order to bolster our roster, we would look to Newcastle to add two or three elite players during the summer transfer window. Sandro Tonali will be like a brand-new player, who knows
Tonali’s time out of the first team will not be wasted, with Eddie Howe working with him in training during this season.
