January transfer window: Key dates, Newcastle United targets and Eddie Howe comments
Everything you need to know about Newcastle United ahead of the January transfer window.
The January transfer window is fast approaching, and it could prove to be a key moment in Newcastle United’s season.
Fuelled largely by the sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool, the Magpies spent heavily in the summer, signing the likes of Nick Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Anthony Elanga and more. However, while things are going well in the Champions League and EFL Cup, it’s yet to translate into success in the Premier League - with Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Chelsea leaving Eddie Howe’s men 11th with 23 points from 17 games.
So, while it would come as a huge shock to see Newcastle splashing the cash freely again, they could make a couple of surgical strikes on their squad to help push them into the upper reaches of the table and back in contention for a European spot. With that in mind, here is everything you need to know about the January transfer window.
January transfer window key dates
- Opens: Thursday, 1st January, 2026
- Closes: Monday, 2nd February, 2026 (11pm GMT)
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What do Newcastle United need in the January transfer window?
The bulk of Newcastle’s summer spending went on their forward line and, as a result, they’re not short of options. Woltemade and Wissa will offer fierce competition for the No.9 spot moving forward, while Elanga, Anthony Gordon, Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes have been rotated on the wings.
Where Newcastle are really struggling right now is in defence, with Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Tino Livramento, Jamaal Lascelles and Emil Krafth all sidelined through injury, while goalkeeper Nick Pope has also been on the treatment table recently.
While a host of those players are due back soon, some - like Botman - have a track record of injuries, while others share that problem and appear to be moving toward the exit door anyway, as is the case for Lascelles and Krafth.
Newcastle have kept just two clean sheets in their last 14 matches across all competitions, and none in their last 10. So, while he brought Malick Thiaw through the door in the summer, Howe might be tempted to further strengthen his backline this January - both in the immediate term, and to future-proof what is an ageing position for his side right now.
What has Eddie Howe said about the January transfer window?
Howe was asked about Newcastle’s January plans ahead of last weekend’s draw with Chelsea. Managers are typically guarded when it comes to discussing possible incomings and outgoings, and that was the case with Howe. That said, he did admit the club remain open to some ‘opportunistic’ moves.
"We're always looking to be opportunistic if there's something there which everyone feels will benefit the club for the short and long term,” said Howe. "Depending on what happens in the next few days and weeks, that may change. There may become a need to be active but I don't think we can make that decision now."
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