It was always going to be a quiet month for Newcastle who wanted to clear the deadwoodfrom the squad before adding to it, and the plan was to clear out in January and build in the summer.
Obviously, should a player come along that Newcastle really likes and can realistically acquire in January, they may well move early, but the feeling is they are waiting to spend big in the summer.
That being said, Paul Mitchell and Co aren’t sitting on their hands waiting for the warmer weather, they are already contacting clubs over future moves.
Newcastle have made an approach for Bryan Mbeumo
One player Newcastle have been linked with since the summer is Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo who is having his best ever season at the Bees with 13 goals in 20 appearances so far this season.
His form has made it practically impossible for Newcastle to do a deal in January, but journalist Ben Jacobs claims that the Magpies are the only side to have made a ‘concrete’ move for Mbeumo and that despite rumours of interest from Manchester United, the Red Devils have yet to act. Here’s what he told The United Stand (h/t Football365).
“Brentford don’t want to sell, that’s the first thing. Newcastle are the only club that have made any concrete approach – No bid for January but they’re looking at Mbeumo over the summer.
“What we can say is when Dan Ashworth was still at Newcastle he was looking at Mbeumo.
“It’s logical to think when Ashworth was still at (Man United) he had put Mbeumo into the mix but I’m not aware that has been taken forward by Jason Wilcox, Omar Berrada or any of the recruitment team.
“Nothing on my radar with Manchester United and Bryan Mbeumo other than to point out that Newcastle likes him and they liked him when Dan Ashworth was still there.”
We can’t rely on Jacob Murphy to sustain this form until the end of the season
Quite what is classed as a ‘concrete’ move if we’ve not made a bid is unclear, but if Newcastle are waiting until the summer, then there’s a long time left for Man United, or indeed any other club, to make their move and beat Newcastle to the punch.
Newcastle desperately need a new right-winger. We’d like to think that Jacob Murphy can continue his fine form until the end of the season and that Miguel Almiron will be sold this month, but we can’t rely on either happening, really.
We’re sure Mitchell knows what he’s doing, but honestly, being pretty inactive for the third transfer window in a row is painful.
