With the January transfer window just five weeks away, the rumour mill is in full swing and churning out daily transfer news for each and every football club in Europe. Newcastle United are certainly no exception.
The Magpies spent £50million in the most recent transfer window and are preparing to spend big again, as Mike Ashley is looking to turn around the club’s fortunes.
The latest in a long list of players to be linked with a move to Tyneside is Swansea City midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, via the Daily Mail. Since arriving in Wales, the former Liverpool starlet has established himself as an integral part in Gary Monk’s side.
Swansea City have endured a difficult start to the season and the fans have already begun asking questions of current boss Gary Monk, whose side drew 2-2 with newly promoted Bournemouth in their last outing.
Despite the Swans’ slow start, Jonjo has been arguably one of their best players this season (as well as Andre Ayew and Ashley Williams) and is unlikely to be available cheaply in January – effectively ruling out Newcastle.
In the same report, the Daily Mail also state Newcastle boss Steve McClaren holds an interest in signing Tottenham Hotspur wide-man Andros Townsend.
The Magpies have been linked with the England international in the past two transfer windows, and it is believed that Townsend would ‘jump at the chance’ to move to the North-East, with the Euros around the corner.
Townsend currently finds himself on the fringes of the first-team and could be available for a cheap price in January, with Spurs looking to cut the 24-year-old from the wage bill.
It is believed Newcastle have already made an initial approach to Spurs and are looking to tie up a deal for Townsend – most likely a loan move with a view to permanent – within the first few days of the window opening.
Last summer, Chancel Mbemba, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dutch Player of the Year Georginio Wijnaldum and Florian Thauvin – a player once likened to a ‘young Franck Ribery’ – arrived on Tyneside. Whilst the club had failed to address several weak spots [left-back, right-back cover, ball playing midfielder], Newcastle had plugged some holes and Steve McClaren assured the fans that the spending would continue in January, so a move for Townsend is not enitrely unthinkable.
