As the calendar flips to January, Newcastle United finds itself positioned 10th in the Premier League, aiming to regain a top-five spot essential for a Champions League berth.

Adding to their ambitions, the team faces a Carabao Cup semi-final showdown with Manchester City and anticipates advancing in the Champions League knockout stages.

What can we anticipate from Newcastle during the transfer window this month? Our chief football correspondent, CRAIG HOPE, shares the latest insights from St James’ Park.

One of their primary tasks is to address the injury list and make decisive choices about player retention and departures. The futures of Jamaal Lascelles, Kieran Trippier, Joe Willock, and Will Osula remain in question, which will help define the squad’s strength and depth.

However, Newcastle intends to invest wisely rather than merely filling gaps this month. They are focused on securing players who promise longevity on Tyneside, with full back being the leading area of interest, closely followed by a young midfielder.

Victory at Burnley on Tuesday sent Newcastle into 2026 on a high, rounding off a historic 2025 that ended their 70-year wait for a domestic trophy

Newcastle have been hugely inconsistent in recent months, failing to win two games in a row since October, but begin 2026 with four home games on the bounce to get them going

Do they have money to spend?

Yes, but not the war-chest some perhaps believe in the wake of Alexander Isak’s £125million sale to Liverpool. Don’t forget, £250m was also spent last summer. Newcastle are in a healthy position with regards spending rules but are also mindful of heading into next summer with funds available and freedom to invest. The word coming out of St James’ Park in recent weeks is that January will not see a major spend. They will be active and able, but only if the deal is right.

This is sporting director Ross Wilson’s first window since his September arrival and he is looking at the bigger picture when it comes to recruitment, as opposed to short-term fixes.

Who are they targeting? 

An approach for Toulouse left back Dayann Methalie is anticipated, although Newcastle are monitoring his situation at present. The 19-year-old is liked by all inside St James’ – he is athletic, comfortable on the ball and can also play as a left-sided centre back. Newcastle would see his addition as accelerating summer plans.

Daily Mail Sport revealed in November that AZ Almaar’s Kees Smit was at the top of the midfield wish-list heading into January. However, we understand the 19-year-old is unlikely to move this month and, if he does, it would be for a fee beyond where Newcastle want to go in the winter window. Figures north of £40m have been mooted in recent days, and just about every top club in Europe has an interest. Should Smit remain with AZ, Newcastle will still be at the table come the summer. Auxerre’s Kevin Danois, 21, and Feyenoord’s Luciano Valente, 22, are also midfielders of interest.

This is more one for the summer, but I can reveal that Newcastle will NOT revisit a move for James Trafford, as it stands. There is a feeling that, after two failed approaches in the summers of 2024 and 2025, the goalkeeping focus must shift elsewhere. Trafford joined Manchester City in July only for the club to then sign Gianluigi Donnarumma. That led to talk of Newcastle making a renewed move. However, I am told this is unlikely to happen. Trafford’s new wages are one issue.

To that end, Newcastle are re-assessing their goalkeeping situation ahead of the summer and names discussed (but not currently being pursued) include Real Sociedad’s Alex Remiro, 30, and Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel, 28.

Newcastle are set to make an approach for Toulouse left back Dayann Methalie. The 19-year-old is athletic, comfortable on the ball and can also play as a left-sided centre back

Neither Nick Pope (left) nor Aaron Ramsdale (right) has seized the Newcastle No 1 jersey this season as they look to join Jordan Pickford (centre) in England’s World Cup squad

How have their summer signings fared so far?  

Mixed. Yoane Wissa was the striker who Newcastle hoped would fill the void left by Alexander Isak, but he injured his knee before making his debut and missed three months. There is an expectation that his recent return will help correct the team’s inconsistent form, and with two goals from two starts he has looked the part at centre-forward.

The biggest success of the new arrivals has been Malick Thiaw, the £35m centre back. His fellow German Nick Woltemade has also been a hit in terms of goals – he has nine from 25 games – but the transition from livewire Isak has not been straightforward, given Woltemade’s playing style is far removed from that of the Swede. Still, he has worn the shirt with great character and has shown his class with some picture-book finishes.

Anthony Elanga, at £55m, has been a disappointment so far, with no goals from 25 appearances. The winger has struggled to make his blistering pace impact in new surrounds and is currently sidelined. Meanwhile, £40m midfielder Jacob Ramsey suffered an ankle injury in August and his introduction has been stop-start. He has not shown his best and Eddie Howe will be hoping for more in 2026.

And who might leave? 

Keep an eye on Osula and Aston Villa, although there is a feeling they would only do the deal at a bargain price, which Newcastle are not willing to entertain. They had a permanent transfer agreed on deadline day only for Villa to realise that a quirk of UEFA spending rules made it difficult to proceed, given Ramsey had already moved in the opposite direction. Eintracht Frankfurt and Crystal Palace also like the Danish striker, who is due to return from an ankle injury after having a protective boot removed before Christmas.

William Osula (left) almost joined Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer but could be heading for the exit this month

Newcastle’s Jamaal Lascelles is the most likely player to leave the club this month

Trippier is out of contract in the summer and is not expected to sign a new deal, with interest from home and abroad. However, he is still needed and is due to return from a hamstring layoff.

Lascelles is most likely to leave this month, while it would take a serious offer for Willock from the likes of Crystal Palace for his exit to be contemplated. At present, there has been no approach for Willock.