Sources: Major update on Newcastle January signing plan after Champions League exit
Newcastle United’s Champions League exit will not change their January transfer plans, sources have told Football Insider.
The Magpies finished bottom of Group F after losing 2-1 at home against AC Milan on Wednesday (13 December) – meaning they will be without European football for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign.
A well-placed source has told Football Insider that even if Newcastle had qualified for the knockout stages, the plan was to look at loan deals in the upcoming January transfer window.
Eddie Howe’s side are on the fringes of breaching Financial Fair Play regulations following their lavish recent spending and are keen to set aside funds for next year’s summer window.
It is believed a loan move for a central midfielder is the priority following Sandro Tonali’s season-long ban for breaching betting rules.
A temporary move for a centre-back could also materialise next month if the Magpies’ finances allow it.
Newcastle won just one of their six group games in the Champions League with an injury crisis taking hold at St James’ Park in recent weeks.
Harvey Barnes, Sven Botman, Dan Burn, Nick Pope and Joe Willock are among the stars currently on the treatment table.
But despite those problems, a radical overhaul of the playing squad is not on the cards in the January window.
Football Insider revealed on 8 December that Newcastle and Tottenham are firmly in the race to sign Man City midfielder Kalvin Phillips on loan in January but face strong competition from Juventus.
The Magpies, who sit seventh in the Premier League, already have Chelsea’s Lewis Hall on a season-long loan so will only be permitted to make one more domestic temporary signing in January.
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