Newcastle United's deadline day could be an emotional affair with one star set to leave
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Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe and sporting director Ross Wilson
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Newcastle United's winter transfer window narrative has unfolded slowly during a bleak January but now looks set to come to a barren conclusion - unless sporting director Ross Wilson can pull a rabbit out the hat on deadline day.
Back on December 1, Wilson insisted that Newcastle do have money to spend but it may not be as simple as writing a couple of cheques, and so it has proved so far.
Wilson said then: "Can we spend in January? Yes. 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."
Between late December and deadline day, Newcastle have unturned a number of stones but have not found the solutions needed to sign the defensive back-up stars required. Howe has been open and honest throughout the window and went from optimistic to hopeful to realistic.
It was at Wolves, after the dire 0-0 draw at Molineux, that he admitted that signing offensive players was off the table. He said then "finances" would dictate recruitment in the window.
Then, after the 2-0 loss to Aston Villa, he stated that Newcastle's chance to change the squad would the summer. Before a bleak one-word assessment in the bowels of Anfield after the 4-1 defeat on Saturday night in which he responded to a question on whether Newcastle could "hang their hat" on deadline day before replying with a simple: "No".
Will there be any incoming business at all?
Howe was not hopeful on Saturday night and with the window shutting at 7pm tonight, there is very little scope for getting a deal done.
Cast your mind back to deadline day in the summer and Yoane Wissa drove through the night to complete his move that only just went through thanks to the submission of a deal sheet and the £55m move was in danger over confusion on paperwork.
In theory, Newcastle could make a sale to buy but with defenders such as Dan Burn and Sven Botman back from injury and Emil Krafth, Fabian Schar and Tino Livramento all facing staggered return dates in spring, there is a feeling that United have enough to get through.
Last week in Paris, Howe ruled out loan deals and talk of a free transfer arrival like out of contract ex-Chelsea man Kurt Zouma has been dismissed by insiders.
The one option Howe has refused to rule out is Matt Targett being recalled to Newcastle from his loan spell at Middlesbrough. He remains a Toon player and doesn't want to leave Boro, but United have a call to make on deadline day.
What about outgoings?
This could be where we see the most action on deadline day with Jamaal Lascelles set to make an emotional farewell after 12 years on Tyneside.
The club captain has been in talks with Birmingham City and Leicester City and has been told he can leave the Magpies. This will free up some wages but won't have a big impact on this window. Alfie Harrison is another on a decent sized professional contract that could leave on deadline day, he has had interest from Birmingham and Malaga.
The one deal Eddie Howe wants to block
Fulham have an interest in Joe Willock but reports of a £20m move to Craven Cottage were dismissed by insiders from both ends on Saturday.
Willock left Anfield without any comment to make. But Howe does not want to offload the midfielder, even if it is a decent PSR move.
With Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton injured Willock's presence could be key in the next few weeks. His contract is up in 2027 and a summer exit could be on the cards, but Howe wants him to stay for the rest of the season.
Howe has also refused to loan out Alex Murphy who is wanted by a clutch of EFL clubs. He was handed a cameo at Anfield during the 4-1 defeat.