OPINION
Newcastle United’s form has certainly picked up a bit in recent weeks. The team have picked up 10 points from five games since that Leicester City humiliation in late September and are up to 13th in the Premier League table.
So perhaps the January transfer window is not so much of a craved-after period for the supporters as it once was, which would appear be a good thing considering the latest report on the club’s plans for the New Year.
The Shields Gazette claimed on Monday that Magpies head coach Steve Bruce is targeting extra midfielders come the winter transfer window and, while there is a bit of money to spend, the club are initially looking to utilise the loan market.
While you can obviously find some decent loan opportunities in a pinch, doing so mid-season is always a tricky task. With that said, it would be no surprise if the Newcastle fans were feeling very pessimistic after reading the Gazette’s report.
In terms of central midfielders, where the team are slightly light – especially if Ki Sung-yueng’s seeming exile from first team exile continues – who could the Magpies really get hold of temporarily in January?
Phil Foden? Pep Guardiola doesn’t really seem to want the young starlet to get away from Manchester City. Victor Wanyama? Perhaps, but is he an upgrade on what Bruce already has at this stage of his career? You get the picture.
There isn’t a lot of value out there in January in general, and finding quality loan players is even more difficult. It doesn’t bode well for an impactful month that that is the sort of recruiting the north east giants want to get done.
