Newcastle exit edges closer as transfer attention…

Newcastle exit edges closer as transfer attention turns to stars who fit ideal Ashworth profile

With little over one week remaining in the transfer window, Newcastle United are poised for both arrivals and departures in the coming days. The Magpies drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace on Saturday night, with Eddie Howe confirming at full-time he is keen to do business.

Howe said: “As a manager, you always want more options. I’ve got no issue with the squad, strength or size. The point I was making yesterday was if we get injuries, we’d be very light.

"We’re keen to do business and keen to bring a player that can hopefully help us but as we know in this window, there are no guarantees that will happen."

After Chris Wood's untimely and unexpected exit, Newcastle suddenly feel light in attack. However, there looks to be movement at the opposite end of the pitch too.

Karl Darlow is poised to join Championship side Hull City after seeing Loris Karius pen a new deal on Tyneside after Martin Dubravka's premature Manchester United return. Darlow is now arguably the fourth-choice stopper at the club.

Chronicle Live understands the goalkeeper is keen to join the Tigers until the end of the season as they battle to stay in the second-tier. Hull are desperately looking for a new stopper after loanee Nathan Baxter returned to Chelsea for rehab following elbow surgery. Hull Live were the first to report the story on Saturday afternoon, despite Hull boss Liam Rosenior remaining coy over his goalkeeper situation earlier this week.

Ryan Fraser, who was again left out of the matchday squad on Saturday, is attracting interest. Jamal Lewis could potentially leave temporarily and there is also loan interest in a host of Newcastle youngsters - including Dylan Stephenson.

As for potential arrivals, Newcastle are scouring Europe's top leagues for new blood. Wood's sudden exit earlier this week means Howe and sporting director Dan Ashworth are looking for more attacking firepower.

Anthony Gordon is a player Newcastle admired in the summer and his current situation at Everton has given the Magpies hope a deal could be done this month. The 21-year-old has played 21 minutes of league football since Boxing Day and was an unused sub as the Toffees lost to West Ham on Saturday.

Quizzed after the game, Everton boss Frank Lampard refused to be drawn on the player's future, offering a spiky response to reporters in the capital. Gordon fits the profile of the type player Ashworth is keen to bring to St James' Park as the club look towards the future rather than the here and now.

Newcastle are also waiting to see how willing Chelsea are to lose three members of Graham Potter's squad. Both Conor Gallagher and Hakim Ziyech started in the 0-0 draw with Liverpool this weekend, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek was an unused substitute.

The latter of the trio can play in a variety of positions, including wing-back, which has piqued Newcastle's interest. Cover for right-back Kieran Trippier is an area many fans believe the north east outfit should be targeting.

Ivan Fresneda is another target in that position but Newcastle face competition to land the 18-year-old Real Valladolid full-back. Fresneda came off the bench as his side were beaten 3-0 by Atletico Madrid on Saturday evening.

The player's agent Luis Bardaji has already visited the UK twice this month and Chronicle Live understands he will return in the coming days to hold further talks. Arsenal are also very interested to land the teenager before the end of January.

Newcastle exit edges closer as transfer attention turns to stars who fit ideal Ashworth profile

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