Newcastle United’s transfer window moves have left Eddie Howe’s squad looking a little light
07:30, 03 Feb 2026Updated 07:35, 03 Feb 2026
Matt Targett and Lewis Hall
The transfer window didn’t exactly slam shut for Newcastle United, more gently closed without any fuss or noise. What had looked at one point like a trading period which could see a flurry of activity, it ended with barely a whimper.
While we wait for confirmation of Jamaal Lascelles’ deadline day move to Leicester City, one thing for sure was that there were no incomings. Should Lascelles depart, that leaves one space spare in Newcastle’s 25-man Premier League squad for the rest of the season.
United had the option of recalling Matt Targett from his loan spell at Middlesbrough, but decided against it. With Fabian Schar, Emil Krafth and Tino Livramento on the treatment table, and Sven Botman missing the Liverpool game on Saturday through injury, it means their defensive options still look stretched.
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Have Newcastle gambled this month? Do they have enough to get through the rest of the season, still competing on multiple fronts? Our writers give their verdict.
Lee Ryder
I don’t think it is a gamble as such, but things could get concerning if further injuries set in. You also have to give summer recruits time to bed in and integrating four five outfield signings into a squad is not straightforward.
You’d say that the first half of the season resulted in Malick Thiaw and Nick Woltemade being hits. OK, Woltemade has dipped and Thiaw has had a couple of iffy games.
But they did reasonably well for incoming stars at big fees last summer. As for Jacob Ramsey, Yoane Wissa, and Anthony Elanga, there is plenty of room for improvement. They aren’t ‘new signings’ any more but they are still finding their feet. If that can happen in the run-in, Newcastle will be delighted so that is an aim of Eddie Howe.
The window started with Howe wanting a backup defender but Dan Burn has recovered well from a punctured lung and Sven Botman is doing OK after injury. Keeping both fit will be key but should they suffer any setbacks, with Fabian Schar and Tino Livramento also injured, there would be a defensive crisis on the cards. It’s as much a challenge for the medical team as it is for the players these days.
Sean McCormick
I think Newcastle have left themselves short defensively. The squad only has one natural left-back and injuries have left them with one right sided centre-half for a few months.
An injury to either or both of Malick Thiaw and Lewis Hall could have disastrous consequences when the stakes are so high between now and the end of the season.
Newcastle need to qualify for Europe next season and go as deep as they can in the Champions League to maximise their performance generated revenue. Given they will need to sign between one and three defenders in the summer anyway, bringing one of those deals forward this month would have given them extra cover and some extra months to get used to the Newcastle way.
Newcastle have chosen not to do that and their prospects in all four competitions between now and the end of the month will live or die by that decision.
Ross Gregory
I genuinely don’t understand why Newcastle didn’t recall Matt Targett. Look, let’s be honest, he’s not the answer long term but what was the issue with bringing him back until the end of the season? As it is, Newcastle’s only cover at left-back is Dan Burn (who is needed at centre-back and has struggled at times at full-back) and Alex Murphy, who Eddie Howe clearly doesn’t rate or trust.
Newcastle are now in the ludicrous position of not being able to name 25 senior players for the Premier League squad should Lascelles’ exit be confirmed. There’s one space spare.
I understand not paying big money for someone they weren’t sure about this window. But there was zero cost to recalling Targett, bar extra in wages. It’s not as if Boro are picking up his full salary anyhow – Newcastle are still paying a contribution.
Hopefully the lack of defensive cover doesn’t come back to bite them on the backside.
Stuart Jamieson
If the topsy-turvy nature of this season tells you anything, it’s that this Newcastle squad is not good enough to hit the heights of previous campaigns. The 4-1 defeat to Liverpool again exposed that while they are very capable of some exciting football, they don’t have the quality throughout the squad to pull off results consistently.
The concern is now that more injuries in key positions – Malick Thiaw and Lewis Hall in particular – leaves the defence threadbare to say the least.
January is a tough month, yes, but deals can be done, and I would have liked to think Newcastle have a top scouting network and database available to them so they could have accelerated a plan for a target. They will need to sign full-backs in the summer, so why not do one now?
The strongest XI remains a quality side, but with eight games to be played in February alone, you have to say this is a big gamble.