Newcastle have not made a single signing in the January transfer window as we begin deadline day
Newcastle United sporting director Ross Wilson
Newcastle United sporting director Ross Wilson(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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As we head into deadline day, it has been an incredibly quiet mid-season transfer window by the Premier League's usual standards.
And Newcastle United have definitely not been the exception to the norm.
Loan moves for out of favour pair Joe White and Harrison Ashby to Bradford City, as well as Spanish youngster Antonio Cordero returning to his homeland in a loan move to Cadiz, goalkeeper Max Thompson moving on loan to Ayr United and young defender Cathal Heffernan joining Harrogate Town on a permanent basis is as exciting as it has got at St James' Park over the last month.
But there is still a feeling that Newcastle are leaving themselves short in the defensive areas. United are over the worst of their defensive injury crisis but Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth are still out of action and there is a chance Jamaal Lascelles will leave the club today.
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When left-back Lewis Hall was out of action through injury, the glaring lack of a natural left-back was exposed as Dan Burn was forced to play there out of position.
A left-back alternative and/or extra centre-half cover would be preferable but Eddie Howe dismissed Newcastle's chances of signing one after Saturday's 4-1 defeat to Liverpool.
But, put simply, Newcastle have the means to sign one. Sporting director Ross Wilson is on the record as saying United can do business today but any incoming transfers today must align with their bigger summer plan.
"Can we spend in January? Yes," Wilson told Chronicle Live back in December.
"If we want to, we can. I think it’s fairly obvious to everybody given the level of club spend in the summer that we’re not going to do that again in the winter window as well, for a variety of reasons.
"But if we want to spend, we can. Of course, we’ll be creative, of course, we’ll be opportunistic as well. But probably the most important thing is that it would have to align with what the summer plan looks like, which is the bigger squad plan."
Newcastle are reluctant to make a mistake this month that will harm their long term PSR position. Eddie Howe has said in the past he doesn't believe there is the same value in the winter market than in the summer.
But that's not to say they can't spend. In fact, when talking to Chronicle Live last month, football finance expert Kieran Maguire suggested Newcastle can 'drop £200million' across the next two transfer windows and would be able to sign a defender for around £30-40million.
"They are in a really strong position," Maguire told Chronicle Live.
"They made a huge profit on Isak, they have got the benefit of Champions League money. Newcastle could drop £200million across this window and the next window and still be well within the limits.
"Even if they sign a defender for £30-40million in January, they would only have six months of amortisation to throw into the equation.
"So a £40million defender on a five-year contract for six months only works out at a £4million cost, plus his wages, but they have got nothing to worry about. They get €2million just for one victory in the Champions League so they are in Position A when it comes to recruiting."
That was backed up by former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson, who is surprised Newcastle have not strengthened their squad this month as they continue to compete in all four competitions.
"Obviously from a PSR perspective, following the Isak sale, they’ve got plenty of capacity now," Borson told Football Insider.
"They could definitely do a bit more. I’m surprised they’ve not done a bit more."
Put simply, if Newcastle want to do business on deadline day they are in a position to do so. If they don't, that is a choice rather than a necessity. And it should aid them in the summer transfer window.
Steven Gerrard, who worked under Wilson when manager at Rangers, told Newcastle fans on Saturday that Wilson's knowledge of the game worldwide is 'outstanding' and suggested he will be 'well ahead of the game' when it comes to summer transfer window planning.
If, as expected, Newcastle don't do any incoming transfer business today then that theory will be well and truly put to the test in the summer.
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