Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund have reportedly made star winger Andre Schurrle available for loan this month, with Newcastle United reportedly interested in the 27-year-old.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Dortmund are keen to cut down their wage bill with Schurrle earning a massive £150,000-a-week at the club.
The newspaper claim that Dortmund are willing to pay half of that wage packet while Schurrle is out on loan, with their preference for an 18-month deal.
Newcastle are one of two Premier League sides credited with interest in the World Cup winner, with Stoke City the other team considering a move.
But the Magpies must be the ones who win this race, as Schurrle is a player who could guarantee their Premier League survival this season.
First of all, the Germany international already has vital experience in the Premier League.
The 27-year-old dazzler made 44 appearances in the competition for Chelsea over a two year spell in west London between 2013 and 2015.
He was part of the Blues side that won the Premier League title under Jose Mourinho in 2015, and that experience would be crucial to Newcastle if they were to secure him this month.
One of the key issues surrounding January signings is their ability to make an instant impact.
If a player comes into a club and takes two months to settle, they will have failed to help the club with it’s immediate aims that season.
And, with Newcastle’s immediate aims being Premier League survival, it is imperative that they sign players who can hit the ground running.
Experience aside, Schurrle is just a fantastic player.
The German wide man showed that on a regular basis while at Chelsea, despite never really nailing down a starting place at Stamford Bridge.
He always seemed to pop up with an all-important contribution in the big games, as further illustrated by his performance in the 2014 World Cup final.
Schurrle started the match on the bench, before being introduced as an early substitute after Christoph Kramer sustained a head injury.
As the match looked like it was heading to penalties, Schurrle provided a pinpoint cross for Mario Gotze to chest down and volley home, winning the World Cup for Germany.
Those big game contributions will be crucial to Newcastle as they essentially face 14 cup finals for their survival between now and the end of the season.
Finally, Newcastle are craving a quality wide man.
Matt Ritchie has been well off-colour this season, failing to score a single goal so far.
Christian Atsu has showed glimpses of his dangerous best, scoring two goals and providing two assists, but in 20 appearances that is simply not productive enough.
Jacob Murphy showed what he can do with a well-taken goal against Manchester City this weekend, but he has still not settled yet on Tyneside.
With Schurrle so readily available, and with Dortmund willing to pay half his wages, Newcastle must pounce to secure the 27-year-old.
£75,000-a-week for a World Cup-winning winger with Premier League experience? Bargain.