Rio Ferdinand is backing Newcastle United to pull away from the Premier League relegation zone, before splashing the cash in the summer.
Eddie Howe's side earned just their second league victory of the season at Leeds United on Saturday, with Jonjo Shelvey's solitary strike earning the points.
January signings Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood both started and played 90 minutes at Elland Road, and Ferdinand has been impressed with the manner of the Magpies' recruitment since their multi-million Saudi Arabia takeover in October.
"I think Newcastle will stay up and then do big business in the summer. I think they’ll go big in the summer," Ferdinand told his Vibe with Five YouTube channel.
"They seem to be doing it more meticulous and strategic and less gung-ho than other teams who have had money straight away."
Newcastle's win wasn't enough to take them out of the relegation zone, with Norwich's impressive 3-0 victory at fellow relegation candidates Watford on Friday night moving them out of the bottom three and making it back-to-back wins in the Premier League following January 15's 2-1 victory over Everton, who also find themselves in trouble.
That Carrow Road loss led to the sacking of Rafael Benitez as Blues boss, but interim boss Duncan Ferguson wasn't able to see an upturn in fortunes when his side took on Aston Villa on Saturday.
The Toffees lost 1-0 at home to Steven Gerrard's side, and are just four points outside the drop zone with 19 points from 20 matches.
Back in the bottom three, Watford sacked Claudio Ranieri off the back of the Norwich defeat, with veteran boss Roy Hodgson soon to come in to replace him until the end of the season.
Burnley sit bottom, although having played as many as four games fewer than Norwich due to both weather and Covid-19 postponements, although they did pick up a point from a goalless draw at Arsenal last time out.
Ferdinand thinks that Everton, who are still without a permanent boss, should have enough to stay away from trouble along with Newcastle, with Norwich, Watford and Burnley going down.
"Before Norwich went on this run they’re on at the moment I had them as certainties to go down. They’ve come out of nowhere but this break has killed their momentum," he continued.
"I think the bottom five are cut adrift. I’m going with Burnley, Watford and I think Norwich will get dragged back into it too.
"If this break hadn’t have happened I would give them a chance, but I think the break will ruin their momentum.
"I think Newcastle get out of it. I think they add one or two players [during the rest of the window] who will make an impact."
