Newcastle United transfers: What will transfer deadline day bring for Newcastle this time around? Dominic Scurr takes an inside look.
It’s safe to say things won’t be quite as eventful this time around. Having spoken to Eddie Howe and various sources in and around the club, Newcastle are set to conclude a third successive winter transfer window without making a major signing.
The club’s injury situation, particularly in defence has seen them tentatively explore the prospect of a defensive addition this past month. But the return of Dan Burn and the emergence of Lewis Miley as a viable defensive option have seen the club take a step back from dipping into the market.
People scoffed when Howe labelled Burn as being ‘like a new signing’ in his side this month, but he wasn’t joking. The big defender has returned after six weeks out with broken ribs and a punctured lung to bolster the defence.
It goes without saying that failing to strengthen an inconsistently performing and injury-prone squad is a gamble on Newcastle’s part. It’s one that shines a harsher light on the club record £250million summer transfer spend that has left them with little room to splurge this past month.
The notion that the winter transfer window is a difficult one with inflated costs and tough negotiations is not without merit. Newcastle’s transfer gambles in the summer haven’t paid off so far, and they are now suffering the consequences.
But that’s not to say the club are completely closed for business.
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NUFC green-light January transfer exit
Newcastle midfielder Joe Willock has been subject to some tentative transfer interest this month but is now set to stay on Tyneside at least until the summer.
Young defender Alex Murphy, who came off the bench in the 4-1 defeat at Liverpool on Saturday, had been earmarked for another loan exit but is now expected to stay around and provide defensive cover while the likes of Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth are out injured.
With Krafth out of contract in the summer, he is another who had been linked with a winter transfer exit, but his injury has hampered any realistic chance of that happening.
Sticking with the defence, Jamaal Lascelles is one player who is expected to leave the club on deadline day. The 32-year-old defender hasn’t featured in a matchday squad since early November and hasn’t started a competitive game for The Magpies since March 2024.
Despite recovering from a long-term ACL injury, Lascelles has not been involved with Newcastle’s first team squad in recent months. The Gazette understands that down to the player being primed and available to leave rather than any injury issue.
As a result, he is not match fit but also not injured and has been made available to leave. With his contract set to expire in the summer, Newcastle will allow Lascelles to leave for a nominal fee.
The experienced defender has been subject to plenty of interest from several Championship clubs, including Leicester City.
And as one defender looks to be leaving Newcastle for the Championship, one could still be heading in the opposite direction.
Newcastle United’s emergency transfer solution is still available
It really speaks volumes of the lack of activity at Newcastle this month when the closest thing we’ve had to a transfer saga is a potential recall for Matt Targett from Middlesbrough.
The 30-year-old has been in fine form and playing regularly for the Championship high-flyers, so is understandably reluctant to return to a club where he is out of contract in the summer and would only be used as a back-up option to Lewis Hall.
As such, a loan recall is unlikely on deadline day. But Newcastle are still not ruling it out.
Discussions have taken place and Newcastle showed they were serious about a potential recall as they extended the clause option deadline from mid-January right up until the deadline to keep their options open.
It has been strongly suggested that a recall won’t happen, but it is still technically possible and Howe isn’t ruling it out yet.
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