James Maddison's words to Harry Kane as good as hint…

James Maddison's words to Harry Kane as good as hint at the transfer profile Newcastle want

Eddie Howe will only move for the right player if Newcastle United are to do business in January.

Newcastle may be flying in third place going into the second half of the season, with European football to push for, but there is not quite the same pressing need to invest as there was a year ago when the Magpies were fighting for their lives in the relegation zone. However, if the right opportunity does present itself, as it did with, say, Bruno Guimaraes, Newcastle are prepared to act as the club continue to monitor a small pool of players.

Given Financial Fair Play restrictions, and Leicester's ardent refusal to sell, it would be a surprise if Newcastle resurrected a move for James Maddison in January after having two big-money bids turned down last summer. Newcastle's longstanding interest in Maddison does at least hint at the profile of player the club are looking at, though, on and off the field. Not only is Maddison a game-changer; the England international would enhance the dressing room rather than disrupt it.

Maddison may not have featured for England during the World Cup, for example, but the 26-year-old did not sulk. It was quite the opposite, in fact, and in the hours after the Three Lions' 2-1 quarter-final defeat against France, Maddison said it was a 'pleasure to be a part of this group'.

Maddison then posted a photograph of him consoling England captain Harry Kane, who missed his second penalty, on his Instagram Stories with the following caption: "No one in world football I would have rather had stood over that penalty. We win together and lose together."

That is the sort of character Howe will want to recruit going forward: a player who will embrace the team-first mentality at the club. The Newcastle boss gives character the 'highest rating' when it comes to the attributes of a potential new signings and selfish individuals have been as good as discounted since he took charge of the Magpies.

Howe has used recruitment consultants in the past to find out more about targets, including their motivations and family set-up. While signings do not have to be squeaky clean, Howe only wants to work with players who will buy into the work ethic and spirit that have been so crucial to Newcastle's turnaround in the last year.

"The biggest danger we have is if you bring someone in that doesn't have that team ethic then you can unbalance the changing room and the feeling and the spirit," he said last month. "I desperately don't want to do that.

"I want to try and enhance that in every window - not destroy it. You have got to be very careful in that respect but, hopefully, every decision we make, we can try and make with the best interest of the team."

James Maddison's words to Harry Kane as good as hint at the transfer profile Newcastle want

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