Newcastle United January transfer latest with wise words from legendary striker
Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Alan Shearer has urged Newcastle United to make a move in the transfer market this month to stop their season from spluttering away.
The Magpies are weighing up whether to add to their squad during the winter window. Eddie Howe has seen his defence decimated by injuries while at the top end of the pitch, the likes of Anthony Elanga, Jacob Murphy and William Osula have also struggled with strains.
It has left Howe’s resources looking threadbare at times and the United boss has admitted they could make a signing before deadline day to bolster the squad.
Shearer believes it is vital that new blood comes into the club to give it some ‘energy and life’ ahead of a brutal run of fixtures.
Newcastle travel to Wolves on Sunday before hosting PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League and Aston Villa in the Premier League. After that, however, is a run of tough away games at Champions League holders Paris St Germain, reigning Premier League champions Liverpool and the second leg of their Carbao Cup semi-final against Manchester City.
A home game against Brentford punctuates another rough away run of games at Spurs, Aston Villa in the FA Cup and then City in the league.
Having lost 2-0 in the first leg, Shearer admits the chances of Newcastle progressing to Wembley are slim and has warned that their season could fall away if they don’t add more bodies to the squad.
“It’s not impossible, but it’s very, very, very difficult now for Newcastle in the League Cup,” he told Betfair. “Even going back to the Etihad with a draw would’ve been hard enough, but going back being 2-0 down is extremely tough and it’s highly unlikely that Newcastle will be in the Carabao Cup final this season.
“They had their chances. [Yoane] Wissa had a really great chance early on. [Nick] Woltemade came on and missed a great chance so when you’re presented with these chances and don’t take them, you’re going to get hurt.
“Newcastle were fortunate it wasn’t three because it should’ve been but for a stupid VAR decision.
“Newcastle need to make signings in January. Another body or two wouldn’t go amiss. A bit more energy and life to the team because they’ve got an incredibly difficult run coming up after this weekend.
“After Wolves, I read somewhere that it’s something like eight out of nine away games between January and February which is going to be incredibly tough.
“I think an injection in the squad definitely wouldn’t go amiss.”
Newcastle still have serious money at their disposal should they wish to make a splash in the winter window. The money from Alexander Isak’s sale is still available, with estimates that they could afford to spend around £200m this window and in the summer and still be within PSR guidelines.
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