Who should Newcastle buy in the January transfer window?

After another defeat from Newcastle United in the Premier League away to Arsenal (0:2), the world’s richest club sits at the bottom of the league table with only 6 points. All of them were in fact draws, which means that they remain the only team without a single win in the English top-flight division. To avoid relegation or should we say, almost embarrassment, the question lays in hand. Who should they buy in the January transfer window?

When Mohammed bin Salman (actually his investment fund, of course) took over the club, he must have thought that it’s going to be easier for sure. In short term, he must have predicted that his presence and money would rapidly give the push to the existing team and make them a stable mid-table Premier League club. Something like they were in the last couple of seasons. With some good fortune, he thought, they might have even more up the table. In long term, he logically planned to rule everything, though. Premier League, Champions League, League world cup …

However, it seems that a short-term problem looks like the trickiest one at the moment. With performances like the one yesterday against Arsenal, jokes started to rapidly spread on social media, calling them the richest football entity that is soon be playing among second division clubs. Weeks ago, everybody was relieved that Newcastle got rid of Steve Bruce. He was always seen as Mike Ashley’s favorite person alive. But as it seems, he actually got something out of the players. Based on the current squad, they maybe even outperformed their actual football skills on a daily level. With the new manager Eddie Howe, the team looks lost in space and time.

So, before it’s too late, Newcastle needs reinforcements. And they need them badly. Practically in all positions. Except maybe in the goal, where Slovak international goalkeeper Martin Dubravka already proved his worth in the past. Callum Wilson in front would also “pass the test” in my eyes, but an alternative in case he gets injured would come in handy as well.

This is where it gets tricky. Investors have enough money to practically buy the whole planet, but who of the world’s great football names will come to the club that is not playing any European football this season, is fighting for survival in the Premier League, and is looking without any shape at the moment. My lucky guess is players in the big clubs that are currently not playing regularly or at all. Let me write down some of the Premier League names that the club should consider bringing in in the next January transfer window. After all, for a start, they should be looking towards their neighbors and not too far.

Jesse Lingard is my first and obvious choice. The England international has proven himself in the past on practically all levels of football. At the moment, there is no chance of seeing him playing an important part for Manchester United. So, if Newcastle staff are clever, they will have to see whether a former West Ham United midfielder is considering moving elsewhere.

Ross Barkley is my second choice. Newcastle is obviously struggling in the final third of the pitch. So, someone with dangerous shooting with both legs and someone able to play that final pass to the striker is crucial. I see Barkley, which is far from being in Chelsea’s plans, a perfect fit.

Kieran Tierney, Arsenal’s best player at the end of last season by miles, is my third choice. Since you can not rest on the past glory, Arsenal’s left-back found it difficult to get into the team lately. Nuno Albertino Varela Tavares pushed him out, so the Scotland international will be probably looking for regular football. The current left-back that is only playing there by chance, to be fair, is Matt Ritchie. He looks … well … as a player looks when playing out of position.

Nathan Aké is my fourth choice. Pep Guardiola made him a better player in Manchester City, that’s for sure. But with the likes of Rúben Dias and John Stones, he will always find his life in Manchester difficult. Since Newcastle’s backline looks very shaky, Aké would make a find edition. Even in a long term.

Juan Mata is my final choice. A long-forgotten Spanish “number 10” is still part of the Manchester United squad. But his playing minutes can be counted single-handedly. Therefore, Newcastle should contact the player’s agent whether the 33-old veteran would like to have a final say in regular Premier League playing time.

There you have it. That’s my list of players the world’s richest football club should realistically consider buying in the January transfer window. As you may have noticed, I did not select any strikers. I have to be honest, no one that could support or replace Callum Wilson upfront came into my mind. Well, one did. It’s Aleksandar Mitrović, but since we focused on Premier League and not on Championship, he doesn’t count.