Newcastle United have had to alter their transfer plans to include the signing of a new striker but are hoping to complete a deal to bring in England international Kieran Trippier next week as an early statement of intent.
Sources have told Telegraph Sport that although defensive reinforcements remain the priority, a calf injury to star striker Callum Wilson has also made the signing of a forward a pressing need for manager Eddie Howe.
Encouragingly, it is understood that Newcastle are confident they will be able to make signings early in the window and have been working hard on deals for several weeks.
A move to sign Trippier is thought to be the most advanced, although there is still some work to be done and there are plenty of other targets.
There have been inevitable issues with the inflated prices they have been quoted, as well as the wage demands of players and the size of commission payments to agents, but there is a growing confidence that Newcastle will be able to move quickly when the window opens
“There is a price for Newcastle and a different one for every other club,” a senior source told Telegraph Sport. “But we know what needs to be done, the list of targets is there and we are working extremely hard to get them finalised as quickly as we can.
“Everyone knows we need players to help the ones we already have and the earlier we get them in January the better.”
Newcastle are still assessing the results of a scan on Wilson’s calf injury but the early diagnosis is not a good one, with the 29-year-old likely to be out for several weeks and all of the club’s games in January.
Newcastle are due to play Southampton on January 2, although that game may be called off following the postponement of their match against Everton tomorrow night because of a Covid outbreak.
They then face two other relegation rivals in Watford and Leeds United, as well as a FA Cup third round tie against Cambridge United before the end of January.
Newcastle only have one specialist centre forward in the squad in Dwight Gayle and he had been hoping to leave this month as he has hardly played this season.
