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Newcastle United could be one of the most active clubs in the January transfer window as they look to reignite a season that is in danger of fizzling out.
Newcastle United got a short and sharp hit of ‘look at what you could have won’ when they fell to a 4-2 defeat at Premier League rivals Brentford on Saturday- or perhaps that could still be ‘look at what you could win’?
The January transfer window is becoming increasingly important in the Magpies season as they continue to flounder in and around mid-table and are still losing ground on the race for European competition. There have been positive performances such as the one just days prior to their defeat against the Bees and Eddie Howe’s side pushed Liverpool all of the way and battled their way to a point against the current Premier League leaders.
All of the intensity and energy shown against the Reds was conspicuous by its absence against Brentford on Saturday as Newcastle looked lazy, lethargic and lackadaisical. It would not be a stretch to start questioning why the squad can produce eye-catching performances against the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool - but seem to struggle to reach those levels when they face the Premier League’s lesser lights.
Although there are still several games to be played before the January transfer window opens for business, their trading during the first month of 2025 could well define the remainder of the season and beyond for Howe and his players. One target showed the Magpies exactly what they would be getting if they were to make for his services as Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo played a lead role in helping his side torment Newcastle throughout the second-half on Saturday. The Bees star is said to be one target under consideration by the Magpies hierarchy as they look to strengthen Howe’s options in attacking areas with a particular focus on the right-hand side of their front three.
For all of the wealth of United’s Saudi-led ownership group, Newcastle will continue to be hampered by the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations and that could mean Brentford’s reported demands of over £50m for Mbeumo could well put his out of reach.
So where do the Magpies look if such a scenario does play out should they try to make a move for the Brentford man? There is one option that has been tentatively linked with a move to Tyneside and he will be a player well known to United’s sporting director Paul Mitchell.
Speaking earlier this year, Mitchell gave a hint of what Newcastle could look for in potential additions, saying: “There hasn’t been a clear strategic strategy over the last five year to say once we get to this point, can we keep enhancing the team with the same level of investment?" Mitchell said earlier this year. "I don’t think that was factored into the strategies we had and that is a learning for everyone but I do think we have to be more global in our vision of the players we sign. I think the skill, whether it be personal philosophy or the demands of financial fair play (PSR) has to come into play where you have to find undervalued talent at a certain age profile. You look at a lot of the signings this summer, it is of a certain age profile, so there is things we need to assess.”
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In short, Newcastle are looking for the next big thing and for players that can grow with the club in way Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak have over the last three years. That does not come without risk but the rewards can be great on and off the pitch if you can land such a player.
One possible deal could well come with Monaco’s Maghnes Akilouche, who has already shown what he can do on European football’s grandest stage so far this season. In Ligue 1, the 22-year-old winger has scored two goals and provided three assists in 13 appearances - a return some would rightly consider to be modest. However, in the Champions League, the France Under-23 international has three goal contributions in just four games, finding the net against Barcelona and Red Star and providing an assist in a 2-2 draw with Dinamo Zagreb.
His returns may well fall short of Mbeumo’s impressive nine goals and two assists in 17 appearances - but Newcastle may well have to take such risks given their PSR situation. Although the Brentford man’s initial stats outscore Akilouche, a deeper dive shows the Monaco winger actually matches Mbeumo when it comes to his average shot creating actions across 90 minutes and only narrowly falls short when it comes to goal creating actions over a game.
One aspect of the game that may trigger further interest from Newcastle given Howe’s preference for discipline and work-rate is that Akilouche averages more blocks, interceptions and successful tackles and actually outstrips the Cameroon international when it comes to successful take-ons, touches per game and carries the ball over further distances, which could play a lead role in the Magpies counter-attacking play.
As stated earlier, a move for Akilouche would be ‘riskier’ than the Premier League proven quality provided by Mbeumo - but the Monaco winger could well be worth the risk given he would reportedly come with a price tag that could be almost half of what Brentford are said to be demanding for their prize asset.
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