Russell Edge

Fri 29 December 2017 21:01, UK

Newcastle United’s midfield star Jonjo Shelvey has been lined up for a January transfer swoop by the club’s Premier League rivals West Ham, according to a report.

The Mirror claim on their website that Hammers boss David Moyes has put the 25-year-old near the top of his wish-list for the upcoming winter window, as he looks to bolster the options available to him in midfield.

It is said that Moyes’ managerial counterpart at Newcastle Rafael Benitez may be willing to offload the former Liverpool maestro to build up transfer funds to strengthen his own squad, and that they would be looking to recoup the £12million spent on capturing him from Swansea in the January window of 2016.

With six-caps under his belt for England, Shelvey has made 76 appearances for the Magpies, scoring five times and chipping in with 15 assists, but has seen himself suspended for five games this season after two red cards, with 14 outings under his belt so far.

Football Insider verdict

Shelvey is viewed as a critical member of the Newcastle squad but everyone has their price on Tyneside. The midfielder is impressive on his day but lacks the consistency to make a difference week in, week out, and his discipline is a real issue for Benitez. Can the Magpies find a replacement? Well, Mikel Merino has starred this season, showing much more composure in the centre of the park, and although he might not be as flashy as his counterpart, he gets the job done. As such, the £12million, which seems cheap for someone of Shelvey’s stature, could be reinvested in other areas of the squad. Selling to a relegation rival seems risky though, so the Magpies may well choose not to sell up, no matter how tempting.

In other Newcastle United transfer news, the club are expected to submit an official bid for a Premier League forward in January.