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Newcastle United fans were greeted with good news about the completion of their long-standing takeover in October last year. The Saudi Arabian-backed takeover was completed by the Public Investment Fund and the Magpies dreamed collectively of better days.
Back then, Steve Bruce was the coach of Newcastle United and was highly under pressure with his team failing to win a game in eight straight matches. They were sitting 19th in the Premier League table and clearly the 61-year old was not the man to take them forward.
Fast forward to a little more than three months, the Toons are rooted to the relegation zone in the same 19th position. New boss Eddie Howe has brought some different ideas to the mix but the poor personnel at his hands have failed to execute those plans properly.
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With the current squad, it's not hard to see why supporters do not feel confident enough and why an overhaul is the 'need of the hour'. Financially, the takeover has probably made them the club to be at in Europe, but the game is not only about cash.
Eddie Howe has been realistic in his approach. The signings of Keiran Trippier and Chris Wood prove that the 'creme de la creme' of Europe will not easily come to Tyneside in order to save this project.
Usually, when we talk about a club signing all their targets in a transfer window, it is thought of as too good to be true. For the Magpies, they will have to make this true and lure almost all of their January targets to stay in the Premier League.
Here is how Newcastle United could line up (and are desperate to line-up) in a 4-3-3 formation if they sign all their January targets.
GK: Martin Dubravka
If there is one position that the Toons have not been linked with as aggressively as other positions, then it has to be the goalkeeper's. This is not to say that they have a world class keeper in their ranks but Martin Dubravka has been decent overall.
The 33-year old is in his fifth season at Newcastle United and the squad is better off with him guarding the post. Carl Darlow has been deputized in the Slovakian's absence but fans are worried about his inconsistency and poor decision making.
Dubravka has been error-prone to some extent himself, but has put in inspiring performances throughout his tenure that have helped them with crucial points. He started the season on the treatment table but returned to the side in late November.
The goalkeeper will not be affected by the January window and will continue to keep his position.
LB: Matt Ritchie
In recent months, Matt Ritchie has somewhat divided opinion but he has not been as wasteful as some other players on the team. The 32-year old is vastly experienced and has often delivered assuring performances at left-back. Ritchie rarely misses an opportunity to get involved higher up the pitch.
There are no immediate offers that have linked him away from the club nor are Newcastle United looking for a left-back right now. Hence, he should continue his run in the side. The Scottish player has made 16 appearances in the Premier League this season and recorded two assists.
Ritchie is a passionate figure and his impressive work rate has endeared him to Newcastle United fans. His versatile nature has come in handy for the club on multiple occasions. The left-back has made 29 key passes for the Magpies and places him with some of the best playmakers in the Premier League.
CB: Attila Szalai
It was reported that the club were desperate to add Lille defender Sven Botman to their ranks but he has much bigger clubs circling for his signature. Now, after those ambitions couldn't be realized, Newcastle have turned their attention to a much more affordable and realistic target, Attila Szalai.
The Hungarian, who plays for Turkish club Fenerbahce, is currently valued at €15 million and will be a decent option for Newcastle. Since joining the Turkish giants in January 2021, the defender has only missed five games and emerged as a reliable figure.
West Ham and AC Milan will compete with the Magpies for his signature. The defender played every minute of the Euro 2020 campaign for his country and is a versatile option who can effectively play as a left-back too.
Eddie Howe has been left demanding more from his current centre-backs who have failed to help the side keep the lead. The towering Hungarian will prove to be a success with his physical attributes.
CB: Diego Carlos
The new centre-back pairing will be completed by Sevilla defender Diego Carlos, who has experience of playing in both the Europa League and Champions League. According to many reports, including The Guardian, Carlos is on the verge of being confirmed as a Newcastle United player.
The defender himself submitted a formal proposal at his current club to allow him to leave. The 28-year old is a solid defender who loves to go shoulder-to-shoulder with strikers and is effective aerially as well. Howe's side have conceded 43 goals all season long in the Premier League and he knows the Brazilian defender will help fix his leaky rearguard.
Sevilla are set to make as much as €35 million and that would be decent business for both clubs.
RB: Kieran Trippier
Over the past two seasons, the return of Kieran Trippier to the Premier League was often talked about. Manchester United were being considered his ideal suitors and linked regularly with him. Newcastle United ended that saga this January when they made the English international their first signing of the new era.
If you were to ask the right-back how he is feeling about the move, he wouldn't have the best things to say. Trippier made his debut in an ignominous defeat at the hands of Cambridge United in the FA Cup. His Premier League debut was also quite demoralizing after the Magpies gave away the lead to Watford in 87th minute.
The club need to grind out victories and show a tough fight in these difficult times and giving away draws will not help their cause. The improved rearguard will be Eddie Howe's hope at surviving the drop.
CM: Joelinton
Newcastle United are not a club known for splashing lots of cash on their transfer targets and have preferred being economical. That fact, as we all know, is about to change going forward all thanks to their newfound financial prowess. In 2019, the Magpies did quite the uncharacteristic when they invested €40 million in Joelinton.
If you've followed the Premier League, you know that his saga has been quite displeasing for Newcastle United fans. From an attacking point of view, the forward has hugely flopped with his miserly goal return of 11 from 101 appearances. Eddie Howe might just have successfully saved Joelinton's career from sinking.
The manager has used his physicality to enforce the press and has allowed him to pull the strings while sitting deep in midfield. Howe has played to the Brazilian's strengths and used him to shield the ball and win the ball back for the team. As a result, he's winning headers in the middle of the park, engaging in duels and getting noticed for his good work.
Working from the back, Joelinton has become a creative force and has created seven chances, the most of any Newcastle United player in their last eight games. Given the kind of work rate he has shown and the amount of ground he is covering every week, Howe will continue to use the Brazilian in his new role.
CM: Jonjo Shelvey
Anybody who watches Newcastle United with a little regularity is familiar that Jonjo Shelvey is capable of both fantastic and wasteful performances. Most of the time, he is neither and just delivers a decent performance with minimum nuisance. It can be argued that they will find better midfielders with a better defensively-inclined mindset than Shelvey, but for now he continues to be a starter.
When Eddie Howe arrived he described the midfielder as an "incredible tactician." The stats do not lie either, the 29-year old is Newcastle United's most progressive passer and has stood his ground firmly under the new manager.
Howe has talked about how he would like to protect his midfielder and manage his workload given his recent injuries. Given all those reasons, it is easy to see that after January, Shelvey will continue to be in the starting XI.
AM: Jesse Lingard
We are no strangers to the impact Jesse Lingard can have on a Premier League club that is in need of him by going there in January. He moved to West Ham United just a year ago frustrated by his little game time at Manchester United.
Lingard then produced one of the most prolific loan cameos of the last decade in the Premier League. His contribution of nine goals and five assists in 16 matches helped the Hammers qualify for the Europa League. Newcastle United are not as afloat as David Moyes' side but desperate for someone to give them goals.
Not only will he be getting regular game-time but will be loved and respected in that dressing room. The attacking midfielder will also have a chance to fight for a place in the England national side with the World Cup approaching.
Last season, West Ham paid €2.30 million for his loan, but the Red Devils want a higher amount to sanction Lingard's exit. Nonetheless, it is a deal that could certainly happen and is one that the Magpies must take the risk of.
LW: Eden Hazard
This would go directly into the list of the most audacious and big name signings that Newcastle United have ever pulled off. However, the Magpies are probably the only club in the Premier League capable of funding Eden Hazard's move. It would involve a hefty transfer fee and a big figure on the wage books.
When those boxes are ticked, Eddie Howe will have to spend hours convincing the Belgian. It is true though that Hazard is looking to return to the Premier League and though he'd love to return to Chelsea, he is not the same player anymore. His form has been exceptionally poor at Real Madrid and his record is loaded with injuries.
The Blues are not short of players in the attacking department and will easily pass this opportunity on to other clubs. That sure sounds like some encouragement for Newcastle United. Howe could surely use a technical player of his ability in the side who could single-handedly drive the attack.
If all that Hazard really needs is a change in scenario, then who knows, this could turn out to be a win-win for both parties.
CF: Chris Wood/Callum Wilson
From his time at Newcastle United it is easy to figure out that Eddie Howe is looking to play a system with only one central-striker. With Callum Wilson on the treatment table, the Toons bought Burnley striker Chris Wood for a handsome price of €30 million.
In the last four seasons in the Premier League, Wood has scored a few more goals than Wilson but both belong to a similar profile of strikers. They can both be utilized as target men, are strong in the air and when the players around them make chances they often end up taking it.
With Wilson set to miss out for at least another six weeks, Wood will be Howe's go-to man upfront. Burnley were known for playing the traditional way and they relied a lot on feeding their strikers via crosses. The entry of Keiran Trippier will help Newcastle United add that dimension to their attacking game.
The €30 million man has managed to score only three goals for Burnley so far, but in his last four seasons he has reached double figures consistently. Perhaps Wood was saving his goals for the Magpies.
RW: Allan Saint-Maximin
It could be argued that Allan Saint-Maximin has been the club's best player for quite some time now. Although the bar for being the best at Newcastle United is currently quite low, his performances have been bright. The fans have often supported him wholeheartedly and love the entertaining side of his game.
The Frenchman has contributed with five important goals in the Premier League and provided assists for three. It is quite certain that if Newcastle United get relegated then St. James' Park will have seen the last glimpse of Saint-Max in their jersey.
His decision-making has been poor at times, but despite those lapses in judgment, he has been a live wire. The 24-year old is always driving his team forward, taking defenders one-on-one and trying to link up in the final-third.
Whatever the fate of the Magpies in the Premier League be this season, the French winger will continue to get people out of their seats.
