Newcastle United fans can dare to dream again following their club’s £300 million takeovers and the dismissal of their much-maligned manager Steve Bruce.
The new owners are expected to splash the cash after appointing a big-name manager. While winning trophies is the long-term goal, Newcastle United will be content to avoid relegation for the time being. They are currently 19th in the Premier League.
Some of the game’s heavyweights have already been linked with the club. However, it is highly unlikely that Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland will move to St James’ Park shortly.
With that in mind, here are five players who could join Newcastle United in January:
Number 5: James Ward-Prowse
This summer, James Ward-Prowse was heavily linked with a move to Aston Villa, but he ultimately signed a new contract with his current club.
Ward-Prowse has been a Southampton man his entire life. He made his debut for the club in 2011 and has since appeared in 332 games across all competitions, scoring 35 goals and assisting on 43 others. The England international is unquestionably one of the Premier League’s best dead-ball specialists right now.
Ward-Prowse can play in a variety of midfield positions. The 26-year-old is a talented midfielder who is well-known for his fitness; he has been a mainstay in Southampton’s midfield for quite some time. Newcastle United has been linked with him, which is no surprise, but he will not be cheap.
Number 4: Donny van de Beek
It would be extremely surprising if Donny van de Beek stayed at Manchester United after the winter transfer window closed.
Van de Beek, one of the best young players in the world, joined United from Ajax in 2020 for £35 million. The midfielder, on the other hand, has struggled to get game time, and many fans have expressed their displeasure. Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been questioned frequently about Van de Beek’s lack of playing time.
This season, the Netherlands international has only made one Premier League appearance, which lasted six minutes. Van de Beek deserves better, and the 24-year-old actor is reportedly looking for a way out. Everton, Newcastle United, Barcelona, and Arsenal have all expressed interest in signing the midfielder.
Number 3: Ousmane Dembele
Ousmane Dembele joined Barcelona in 2017 as a potential Neymar replacement but has done little to live up to the hype.
Barcelona signed Dembele from Borussia Dortmund for £121.5 million to replace PSG-bound Neymar. Dembele was viewed as a wise investment by the club, as the France international had impressed at a young age in both Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga.
Dembele, on the other hand, has been plagued by injuries since joining the La Liga giants. He has made 118 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring 30 goals and assisting on 21 others.
Once regarded as one of the world’s best young stars, the 24-year-old finds it difficult to maintain a consistent run of senior team appearances. Dembele has also been involved in off-the-field squabbles. His current contract with Barcelona expires next year so that he could leave the club in January.
Number 2: James Tarkowski
Under Sean Dyche, James Tarkowski has established himself as one of Burnley’s most important players.
The fact that the 28-year-old is Burnley’s defensive talisman says a lot. Burnley is known for their defensive and disciplined style of play, which makes them unappealing to watch. Tarkowski, on the other hand, has thrived since joining the club from Brentford in 2016 for £3.6 million.
However, the center-back is expected to leave the club on a free transfer when his contract expires next summer. Newcastle United has recently been linked with him, and the England international could be a smart and inexpensive addition to the Magpies’ defense.
Number 1: Philippe Coutinho
It’s quite incredible that two Barcelona players have been linked with moves to Newcastle United. Even more incredible is the fact that both players cost Barcelona more than £100 million each.
Philippe Coutinho, one of them, joined the La Liga giants from Liverpool in 2018 for an eye-watering fee of £121.5 million. Before joining Barcelona, the Brazil international was one of the best players in the Premier League, and many saw him as an ideal fit for the club.
Coutinho, on the other hand, has struggled to live up to those expectations. Barcelona fans will remember a season-long loan spell at Bayern Munich with resentment. Coutinho scored twice as Bayern Munich defeated his parent club 8-2 in the 2019-20 Champions League quarterfinals. The 29-year-old is now a member of Barcelona’s squad and is expected to leave the club shortly.
