Newcastle United have been busy in the January transfer market already, but some of their better finds in previous years have come without any Premier League experience.
Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood have arrived from Atletico Madrid and Burnley respectively, but the Magpies are unlikely to be done just yet as they aim to pull away from the relegation zone in the second half of the season.
As far as January signings go, there are few who have had a greater instant impact than Papiss Cisse after the Senegal striker moved to St James' Park 10 years ago today.
After joining from Freiburg for £9m, Cisse scored 13 goals in 14 games to help secure a fifth-place finish under Alan Pardew with a points total they haven't come close to matching at the top level in the decade since.
With a fortnight of the transfer window remaining, Mirror Football has looked at six Bundesliga players who Newcastle could look to sign as they look to kick-start their season under Eddie Howe.
Who should Newcastle look to sign this month? Have your say in the comments section
Patrik Schick
Schick was already on the radar of top European clubs before the summer, but leapt to the forefront of people's minds with his goals at the European Championships.
A halfway line strike against Scotland was one of five he scored at the tournament - no player scored more - and kept the goals coming with 15 for Bayer Leverkusen before Christmas.
The 25-year-old is expected to fetch upwards of £40m if he moves in January, with West Ham also linked after signing several of Schick's Czech international teammates since the start of 2020 but his goal record in Germany will make him an appealing prospect.
Amadou Haidara
Another player in high demand is midfielder Haidara, with reports suggesting he could be in line for a reunion with former RB Leipzig manager Ralf Rangnick at Manchester United.
Newcastle could do with reinforcements in the middle of the park, having experimented with Joelinton in an unfamiliar role under Howe, and are reportedly prepared to move before the player's £33m release clause comes into force in the summer.
The 23-year-old is currently away with Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations, but AFCON involvement didn't deter Newcastle from signing Cisse back in 2012.
Denis Zakaria
If Newcastle want a more affordable midfield option, Zakaria is out of contract in the summer and is not expected to renew his Borussia Monchengladbach contract.
The 25-year-old has played more than 100 Bundesliga games since joining Gladbach from Young Boys in 2017, and was part of Switzerland's squad for the last three major international tournaments.
Manchester United could also provide competition for Zakaria, while Liverpool have also been mentioned in connection with a potential move for the 6'3" midfielder, but money could talk if his parent club decide to cash in before the summer.
Matthias Ginter
Ginter is another man who will be out of contract in the summer, with Zakaria's teammate also expected to leave Borussia-Park when his deal ends - if not sooner.
Newcastle have been linked with the German international as they seek defensive reinforcements, with a deal for Lille's Sven Botman hitting a series of snags in the early part of the window.
The former Borussia Dortmund man was the youngest member of Germany's World Cup winning squad in 2014, and started every game for Jogi Low's side at Euro 2020, but the biggest obstacle for Newcastle is likely to be the reported interest in the player from Bayern Munich.
Florian Wirtz
A teammate of Schick at Leverkusen, Wirtz is still 18 but already has 50 Bundesliga appearances under his belt.
The teenager has been in high demand, with his full international debut for Germany arriving in 2021 and Manchester United among the clubs likely to battle Newcastle for his signing if a bid is made.
Newcastle are one of a number of clubs to have reportedly scouted the youngster, and a big-money move would send a real statement as the Magpies' new owners set out to build a competitive squad, though a move in the summer or even next year may be more likely than a January switch.
Wout Weghorst
Dutch striker Weghorst scored at Euro 2020 over the summer, having been linked with a Premier League switch off the back of his form for Wolfsburg last season.
The 6'6" frontman has scored at a rate of better than one goal in two games in Germany, but Kicker reported late last year that his club could entertain offers if the sporting situation worsened.
A long winless run under Florian Kohfeldt has seen the Bundesliga side eliminated from Europe and left closer to the relegation places than to a top-four finish, and Howe's side could be tempted if they want further attacking reinforcements in addition to New Zealand international Wood.
