With Newcastle United on course to make an instant return to the Premier League, manager Rafa Benitez may start to look for players that could make an impact in the top flight.
The Magpies are currently in second position in the Championship table – six points ahead of third-placed Reading – and they showed last summer that they aren’t afraid to spend big to get the players they want, with Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle both persuaded to drop down a division when they completed their moves to St James’ Park from Bournemouth and Crystal Palace respectively.
While there may be some out-of-favour players in the top flight that could be looking for more regular first team football, United will also be confident that they have the pulling power to convince a Premier League starter to join them as well, especially if they continue to look like they will win promotion.
Here are FIVE Premier League stars that Newcastle should try to poach this month…
Callum Wilson
Rafa Benitez will be looking for a striker to take some of the pressure off of his top goalscorer Dwight Gayle, and the Bournemouth attacker could be the ideal addition.
Newcastle’s interest in the 24-year-old has been reported, but they would definitely have to break their transfer record of £16m if they were to be successful in bringing Wilson to the north east.
The former Coventry man is the Cherries’ top Premier League goalscorer this season with six goals and has shown how prolific he can be in the Championship too after bagging 20 goals for the south coast outfit as they won promotion to the top flight in the 2014/15 campaign.
Fabian Delph
After making just four appearances for Manchester City this season and having struggled to break into the first team in general following his move from Aston Villa in 2015, Delph could be set for a departure from the Etihad Stadium this month.
Having already missed out on a deal for Everton’s Tom Cleverley, who joined Watford on loan instead, Rafa Benitez appears keen to sign a central midfielder and should turn his attentions to trying to bring the England international to St James’ Park, although it is unclear whether Delph would be willing to drop down a division.
James McCarthy
The Republic of Ireland was considered to be one of the best in the Premier League in his position a couple of seasons ago, but the central midfielder has struggled to break into the Everton first team this term because of the fine form of summer signing Idrissa Gueye.
This has come on top of Toffees manager Ronald Koeman falling out with McCarthy’s national team boss Martin O’Neill over the selection of the 26-year-old when he was still recovering from injury.
With Morgan Schneiderlin completing his move to Goodison Park on Thursday, McCarthy appears to have slipped even further down the pecking order and could look for a move away this month – although he may not want to drop down a division.
Shane Long
James McCarthy’s Republic of Ireland teammate Long enjoyed his best ever Premier League season last year when the Southampton striker scored 10 goals in 28 appearances, but he has found first team opportunities hard to come by this term following the arrival of Claude Puel as manager.
The 29-year-old has often played second fiddle to Charlie Austin, Nathan Redmond and Jay Rodriguez and he didn’t score his first goal of this campaign until New Year’s Eve.
In the hope of finding more minutes and getting his confidence in front of goal back, the hard-working attacker may look for a move away from St Mary’s this month and Newcastle could be the perfect destination.
Robert Snodgrass
Hull City may be struggling at the wrong end of the Premier League table, but one of their standout players has been midfielder Robert Snodgrass.
The Scotland international is the club’s top scorer this season with seven top flight goals to his name, and he would have been available on a free transfer next summer before Hull triggered a one-year contract extension that is due to keep him in east Yorkshire until 2018.
However, that hasn’t put off the Scot’s admirers and West Ham have already had a bid rejected for the 29-year-old this month, and Rafa Benitez may be tempted to put in an offer of his own for a player that would certainly be ready for the Premier League if the Magpies do make an instant return this term.