Newcastle Unite continue to push for new faces in the January transfer market but Rafael Benitez faces the difficulties of entering the window with his hands tied behind his back, as finances remain strict in the North East.
The Magpies are only likely to be able to conclude loan deals unless players are sold to raise funds, which raises some interesting situations for Rafael Benitez’s side over the course of the final weeks of the transfer window.
Interest in his players isn’t short, with plenty of clubs keen on Aleksander Mitrovic and West Ham eyeing Jonjo Shelvey, but it’s another player within the squad who should be offloaded to make room for a new recruit.
Dwight Gayle is Fulham’s top transfer target for January and Newcastle should certainly consider a sale, as it could hold the key to landing long-term target Tom Cairney from the Cottagers- a player who’s being chased by West Brom.
Gayle was in superb form last season as the Magpies sealed their return to the Premier League at the first time of asking but he’s found things difficult in the top-flight, as part of a Newcastle side that’s scored just 21 goals in 23 matches.
Improvements in the final third are being eyed, with a new striker likely to arrive on-loan, but Newcastle could also do with added creativity to support the players in the final third- and that’s something that 24-year-old Cairney can do.
Losing Gayle and gaining Cairney would be a good piece of business for Newcastle, particularly if they were to also hand Aleksander Mitrovic a return to the squad and the first-team football that he’s chasing.
