7 months ago
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Newcastle face a dramatic end to the January transfer window with the club potentially having to fast forward a major rebuild.
The Magpies were expecting a quiet winter having majorly splashed the cash since their Saudi Arabia takeover.
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talkSPORT revealed at the start of this month that the Tyneside outfit were being very careful to make sure they did not breach Financial Fair Play rules and initially targeted the loan market.
However, a number of their first-team players have since been targeted by rival clubs and there is likely to be one high-profile departure at Newcastle before the end of Deadline Day.
That in turn may see Eddie Howe's side accelerate plans to bring in fresh signings himself.
Magpies CEO Darren Eales had earlier revealed the club may have to sell to buy, and Howe later confirmed that to talkSPORT.
Miguel Almiron
The most likely exit is Almiron, who has been eyed as the last marquee arrival to the Saudi Pro League.
As revealed by talkSPORT’s Saudi correspondent Ben Jacobs, the Magpies have reached an agreement with Al Shabab over the Paraguayan, who is open to the move.
The deal is not done yet, though, but the sale of Almiron could help with their FFP woes, with Al Shabab not among the four SPL sides also owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.
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Amadou Onana
The major benefit of a high-profile sale is of course the chance to buy a replacement, with Everton star Onana among their chief targets.
The Toffees are in more dire straights with FFP than the Toon, having been charged twice and deducted ten points for breaches.
Sean Dyche is under mounting pressure to concede one of the club's sellable assets, with Newcastle rivalling Arsenal for Onana.
The Telegraph claim that Newcastle’s recruitment team believe the Belgian has both the attributes and profile needed to improve their squad.
The report adds that Onana has been discussed intensively but Everton's £50million price tag is problematic.
The 22-year-old would be the long and short-term replacement for Joelinton, who is already out for the rest of the season through injury, as he continues to struggle to agree a new contract.
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Morgan Gibbs-White
The Nottingham Forest talisman is another name eyed by Newcastle but would be more of an Almiron-type replacement.
According to the Telegraph, Gibbs-White has also been scouted extensively by Newcastle’s recruitment team this season.
Gibbs-White impressed club chiefs in Forest’s 3-1 win over Newcastle on Boxing Day, yet the Tricky Trees are likely to resist any bid.
The 23-year-old tasted England U21 success alongside Anthony Gordon last summer, and Newcastle are likely to revisit their interest in him at the end of the campaign regardless of January's outcome.
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Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson
Newcastle plan to block influential duo Trippier and Wilson from leaving St James' Park in January, talkSPORT understands.
Trippier had become a shock target for Bayern Munich in January to join Harry Kane and Eric Dier at the Bundesliga club.
talkSPORT understands that the England full-back was open to the move, while the two clubs are understood to have had talks.
Atletico Madrid also made a surprise enquiry for Magpies striker Wilson, although they are not expected to firm up their interest.
Newcastle's stance, however, is that the pair are not for sale this month.
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