Kieran Trippier’s big-money transfer to kick off Newcastle’s January relaunch

Newcastle are on the verge of signing Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid but the England defender’s arrival is expected to only be the start of the Magpies’ busy month on the transfer front

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Fifth million quid on the table for two new players, five months after they couldn’t afford an £850,000 loan fee.

The contrast between Mike Ashley and Steve Bruce ’s August transfer window and Eddie Howe ’s Saudi funded rebuild of Newcastle United is stark.

Now it’s England ’s Kieran Trippier in for up to £25m, quitting Champions LeagueAtletico Madrid for a relegation rescue job on Tyneside. And there’s a battle with AC Milan for top defensive target Lille ’s Sven Botman, with £30m being dangled.

In August, Bruce was told they didn’t have the cash flow to pay Leicester under £1m to borrow Hamza Choudhury.

Howe has mocked the incessant transfer rumours around his club saying if everyone comes off “have a squad of about 1,000 new players…”

But he also knows that he needs new blood everywhere. Realistically he will get four to six new faces this month.

Join the debate! Who should Newcastle sign in January? Comment your picks below.

On January 15th, second bottom Newcastle, with one win all season, will entertain fourth bottom Watford, two points better off.

It will be the 100th day of Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund ownership. 100 days since Amanda Staveley brokered the takeover, and vowed to challenge for the title in 5-10 years.

Since there’s been just one win, against Burnley. Just 11 points have been amassed in 19 games with repeated confirmation, despite tactical progress under Howe, that the current squad has losing in its DNA.

Despite this, St James’ Park is a sell out, even most likely for the low key FA Cup third round against Cambridge.

An unprecedented honeymoon period is blossoming with fans hailing positives in every defeat, swooning over Christmas messages from the co-owners Staveley and Jamie Reuben, convinced better days are ahead.

January is their first big test in moving from fantasy football rumours to reality.

In 100 days the club has failed to appoint a director of football or new CEO, not ideal ahead of a big window. Although if they can eventually land Dan Ashworth to guide the long term it would prove they are serious players.

New transfer advisor, ex Celtic Nick Hammond, along with Howe, is leading the recruitment spree.

Defence is priority for a side who leaked a record number of Premier League goals, 80, in 2021. Botman, Burnley’s James Tarkowski, Bournemouth kid Lloyd, Joe Rodon and Rob Holding are targets.

Frozen out Everton left back Lucas Digne is a possibility but not before a robust midfield destroyer is landed.

Marseille’s Boubacar Kamara has been watched and is high priority, and Fulham ’s Tosin Adarabioyo.

More speculative would be loan moves for Donny Van de Beek and Barca’s ex Toon midfielder Gini Wjnaldum who played in their last relegation campaign.

With Callum Wilson out for 6-8 week with a calf problem, and a record of injuries, resources could be redirected to the strike department. Barca’s Ousmana Dembele appears out of reach, Eddie Nketiah a domestic option and Brazilian Gabriel Barbosa is being touted around.

With every elite name being sought, there are rivals also hovering, in better league positions, and more established in Europe.

Contractual negotiations are complicated by United’s relegation risk. Will Trippier for instance stay if they are relegated and wreck his England World Cup squad chances in the Championship?

Will every top player ask for a guarantee to be moved on in the summer if the worst happens?

But any player with character, ambition and an appreciation of what Newcastle can become in future years would fancy the challenge – a chance to become their Vincent Kompany.

That, and the club record £150k a week pay cheques.

Newcastle are in a three-from-four battle to stay up, but all is not lost. Five or six wins, and five draws from 19 games seems the bare minimum.

They face only one “elite” side, West Ham, in the next seven games. It’s now or never.

Eddie Howe needs a proper relaunch to conjure the top half of the division form needed for survival.