Newcastle United are not expected to go big in the January transfer window with an emphasis on not upsetting the apple cart.
This is according to the reliable Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie who has been speaking on the Tyneside Life YouTube channel about PIF’s plans for the upcoming winter market.
Eddie Howe’s men go into the World Cup break having only lost one of their 15 Premier League games which came in contentious fashion away to Liverpool.
But there will be very few gripes on Tyneside with their side sitting in a much, much stronger position than what they did this time last year when they were struggling to find a single win.
And despite the apparent opportunity to do something seriously impressive this season following their electric start, Downie does not think the owners will want to make major additions that could upset the camp:
(5:00) “So this would actually be a good opportunity for Newcastle. If they were to go for it now. I’m not sure they will. I think they will want to not upset the apple cart too much.
“I mean, that squad is playing very well. They’re providing results. They’ve, as I’ve said already, got the whole city together as one. I think if and they will, I think they will think that if they bring in a lot of players say they bring in a clutch of new players, that might cause a few problems behind the scenes because then you’ve got players out of the team. And, you know, does that create a bit of unhappiness? I don’t think they can be doing any better than what they are at the moment.”
“So I don’t see there being a huge change in January. But if they wanted to, they could. And it’s going to be really intriguing to see what happens, given what’s happened in this first part of the season.”
TIF Thoughts on Downie’s comments…
We think there are certainly some positives to be taken from this approach given how competent this group of Newcastle players have looked in the opening 15 games of the season.
Should Newcastle go for it in the January window?
Yes
No
However, Newcastle have had a slight advantage in not playing European football alongside their league fixtures and following the World Cup break, they will then have both Carabao Cup and FA Cup games to consider.
And we do just wonder whether this could affect Newcastle’s league form when a lot of the big teams were knocked out of the Carabao Cup in the last round.
With so much now potentially on the line for the Toon this season, we do think if they fail to finish in the top four, the January window may be looked at as a missed opportunity if they follow a strict transfer policy.