Newcastle United have positions they need to address ahead of the January transfer window.
While the January transfer window may not be particularly busy for Newcastle United in comparison to a dramatic few months over the summer, that doesn’t mean there will be absolutely no signings at all.
Indeed, Newcastle United are likely to have money to spend in the January transfer window for the first time in three years.
Given some of the struggles Eddie Howe’s side have endured this season, a few smart additions would certainly be wise.
Newcastle United are struggling in the Premier League and injuries to some of their full-backs and strikers this season have exposed some gaps in the squad.
With that in mind, Geordie Boot Boys looks at four issues Newcastle simply have to address in the January transfer window.
Kieran Trippier speaks with Eddie Howe after Newcastle United beat Wolves in the Premier League.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Newcastle United need to sign more full-backs
On paper, the Newcastle United squad is full of full-backs.
However, and while losing them both at the same time was unfortunate, injuries to Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento exposed how light Howe is there.
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Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn cannot play every week. There are even debates as to whether Burn can play at left-back at all any longer.
Player Age Senior minutes played at full-back this season
Kieran Trippier 35 1,086
Dan Burn 33 858
Tino Livramento 23 646
Lewis Hall 21 339
Emil Krafth 31 178
Harrison Ashby 23 0
Alex Murphy 21 0
Leo Shahar 18 0
Further back-up options Emil Krafth and Harrison Ashby do not convince, while the likes of Leo Shahar and Alex Murphy are too inexperienced.
The drop off from losing either Hall or Livramento is alarming. Trippier offers quality but leaning on a player approaching the end of his career who may leave in the summer anyway feels like a risk.
Sven Botman’s contract must be a priority for Newcastle United
Sven Botman’s form has tailed off in recent weeks, there’s little getting away from it.
Still, by the time the January window opens, the Dutchman will only have 18 months left on his contract.
At his best, the defender is one of the best in the Premier League. Howe wants to keep Botman at Newcastle and a new deal has to be seen as a matter of urgency.
Sven Botman playing for Newcastle United against Union Saint-Gilloise.
Photo by Omar Havana/Getty Images
Having waited so long for him to fully recover from injury, watching him leave at a knock-down price would be a bitter blow.
The agreement doesn’t need to come in January itself but Newcastle could do without another media circus.
If Botman’s new deal isn’t sorted by then, the links are surely going to keep growing.
Magpies must make decision on striker options
Nick Woltemade, Yoane Wissa and William Osula are interesting striking options on paper.
Still, Newcastle have been tipped to sign a new striker in January, although that doesn’t make a huge amount of sense given the fact Wissa hasn’t even played yet.
Newcastle also want to keep Osula in January, so it’s hard to imagine there being much room in the squad for another orthodox forward.
Eddie Howe on Will Osula:
"Will is vitally important, he is quick, he is athletic. He has a good attitude and better know how to manage game situations. He is now coming on the pitch looking like a complete package. Every time he has come on the pith, he has performed.
Great… pic.twitter.com/72IIbhlF1h
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) October 28, 2025
View Tweet
It’s time to stick or twist with Osula, frankly. If the club really are on the lookout for a new forward, it may be best to sell him and use that money to help fund a replacement.
If a new forward were to arrive, Osula would surely only fall further down the pecking order.
Conversely, if the club feel as if they can get more of a tune out of him – and there have been promising signs on that front – then forget the new forward and work with the unit they currently have.
Whether to risk it all for Kees Smit
Geordie Boot Boys understand that Newcastle are interested in AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit.
According to our information, however, a January move is not deemed likely at this stage.
That feels like a risk. Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are also being linked and reports from Keith Downie of Sky Sports suggest that the 19-year-old’s asking price is around £22million.
While not a huge amount of money in a Premier League context, it’s not an insignificant amount for a club who need to keep thinking about PSR even when the situation on that front is looking healthy.
Still, after a summer in which Newcastle missed out on several key transfer targets, not moving for a talented young player when he’s somewhat available only to watch him join a European giant is unlikely to go down well amongst supporters.