AI predicts Newcastle United's January transfer window as three signed and four leave
We've asked AI to predict who Newcastle United will sign and sell in the upcoming January transfer window.
The January transfer window is upon us, and Newcastle United may have to invest once again if they’re to turn their season around.
Despite going well in the Champions League and EFL Cup, the Magpies are stuck in 14th place in the Premier League table, with just six wins and 23 points on the board from 18 games.
Of course, all is not lost at this stage of the season, with Newcastle trailing Chelsea in fifth by just six points. However, Eddie Howe’s men need to hit some form quickly, and to do that, they may have to turn to the winter market to bring in some reinforcements amid injuries and inconsistency. With that in mind, we’ve asked X’s AI chatbot, Grok, to predict Newcastle’s activity in the January transfer window. Who will they sign, and who will they sell?
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Who could Newcastle United sign in January?
Kees Smit
- Club: AZ Alkmaar
- Position: Central midfielder
- Fee: £22m
Grok: "Newcastle should target AZ Alkmaar's Kees Smit as a January midfield addition. The 19-year-old Dutch prospect brings vision and potential to complement Bruno Guimarães and Sandro Tonali long-term. Amid links to the club, his arrival provides depth and future-proofing without disrupting the current setup in a mid-table campaign."
Morgan Gibbs-White
- Club: Nottingham Forest
- Position: Attacking midfielder
- Fee: £40m
Grok: "Newcastle should pursue Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White for midfield creativity. The 25-year-old England international offers vision, dribbling and goal contributions lacking in the final third. His arrival links Guimarães and Tonali to attackers superbly, elevating Newcastle toward European places with achievable funding from sales - which we will cover later."
Joel Ordóñez
- Club: Club Brugge
- Position: Centre-back
- Fee: £30m
Grok: "Newcastle should target Club Brugge's Joel Ordóñez for defensive reinforcement. The 21-year-old Ecuadorian centre-back, amid strong transfer links, adds composure and aerial strength to cover injuries and ageing options like Schär. His potential bolsters a solid backline, aiding consistency in Newcastle's push out of mid-table."
Who could Newcastle United sell in January?
Joe Willock
- Position: Central midfielder
- Fee: £15m
Grok: "Newcastle should offload Joe Willock in January. The 26-year-old midfielder has managed just 232 minutes this season with a WhoScored rating of 6.23, overshadowed by Tonali, Guimarães and others. As a squad player offering limited impact, a sale recoups funds around £10–15m, allowing investment in fresh talent amid succession planning."
William Osula
- Position: Striker
- Fee: £10m
Grok: "Newcastle should sell William Osula in January. The 22-year-old forward, a significant summer 2024 investment, has managed only 213 minutes this season with just one goal, largely blocked by Nick Woltemade's strong form, and the returning Yoane Wissa. Recent injury and limited impact make him expendable; a £10m–£15m sale recoups funds while allowing reinvestment in areas offering greater immediate contribution."
Jamaal Lascelles
- Position: Centre-back
- Fee: £1.8m
Grok: "Newcastle should part ways with Jamaal Lascelles this winter. The 32-year-old club captain has managed only 19 minutes amid a stacked centre-back group led by Thiaw and Botman. His 6.10 WhoScored rating reflects limited opportunities; offloading the veteran clears wages and a spot, allowing focus on emerging talents in a competitive squad."
Emil Krafth
- Position: Full-back/centre-back
- Fee: £1.5m
Grok: "Newcastle should sell Emil Krafth in January. The 31-year-old right-back has played just 146 minutes with a below-average 5.72 WhoScored rating, sitting behind Livramento and Trippier. With depth in defence, cashing in on his modest value frees resources to address more pressing needs in attack and creativity."
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