Hello and welcome to the Newcastle United live blog for Tuesday, January 9.
A new week but the same old issues at St James' Park as Rafa Benitez looks to do loan deals on a budget. Sunday brought reports of a bid for Diafra Sakho that had been knocked back, while Benitez is hoping to do a Kenedy deal quickly.
We will have the latest on his loan enquiries. Mike Ashley is back this week so we'll see how that affects things.
Elsewhere, Newcastle were handed a difficult FA Cup fourth round draw as they will travel to either Chelsea or Norwich City at the end of the month.
We'll have the fallout from that, the latest on the takeover and also all of the January transfer rumours that are starting to stack up.
As ever we want to hear from you, so please send us your thoughts over Facebook at www.facebook.com/chroniclenufc/ or on Twitter at @ChronicleNUFC.
Key Events
Gossip: Oumar Niasse
Are Brighton interested?
Mark Hughes backs Stoke survival
He was sacked from the job last week but Mark Hughes is backing his side to survive the drop.
Although so far this season we haven’t matched the high standards set in previous years, I remain confident that performances and results will improve in the second half of the season.
Gossip: Daniel Sturridge
Reports that Newcastle United have asked about the availability of Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, who may be available on loan.
Tickets: Swansea (H)
Still time to get yours.
Gossip: Georges-Kévin N'Koudou
Burnley are closing in on Spurs midfielder Georges-Kevin N’Koudou. He’ll join on loan for the rest of the season.
Chris Waugh on Chancel Mbemba
Could the defender leave Tyneside this January?
Chancel Mbemba is one of Newcastle United’s most-saleable assets this month alongside Aleksandar Mitrovic - but the same applies to the defender as it does the striker. Rafa Benitez would contemplate selling the Democratic Republic of Congo international, but only if a substantial financial offer - likely in excess of the £8m Newcastle paid for him - arrives, and that would also be dependent on United signing a replacement first. Anderlecht are unlikely to be able to afford the price Newcastle would demand, while it would likely take up a significant portion of Celtic’s budget too.
Wenger on Coquelin exit
The Arsenal manager has spoken about Coquelin’s potential exit.
It’s a possibility but nothing is decided. It would not be for West Ham. We have no contact with West Ham. The transfer window should be banned to keep our like a bit more focused on football.
What does this mean for Jonjo Shelvey? Well a midfielder is a key target for West Ham and David Moyes but it would have to be a special offer for Rafa Benitez to consider selling Shelvey.
Ahmed Musa - available?
Leicester City appear to be on the clear-out and one man heading towards the door may be Ahmed Musa. He scored 42 goals in 142 games for CSKA Moscow but his move to Leicester in July 2016 has failed to take off. He hit four goals in 29 appearances in his first season but has yet to appear in the 2017-18 campaign. He’s attracting interest from Turkey but his agent is confident he’ll stay in England.
We have indeed been approached by the top three clubs in Turkey but Musa is not keen to go to Turkey just yet. There’s a big chance that Musa will remain in England. I’m however surprised about the link to Bursaspor. I don’t know where the rumour came from.
It’s a complete joke and a figment of someone’s imagination. Rest assured Musa is not going to Bursaspor.
Gossip: Sandro
Eveton beat Newcastle United to signature of Sandro - who moved to Merseyside from Malaga. It’s not quite worked for him at Goodison Park and Big Sam Allardyce has singled the Spaniard can leave as the BBC reports.
Sandro, the 22-year-old former Barcelona striker signed in a £5.2m deal from Malaga in the summer, is another Koeman acquisition who has struggled to adjust to the Premier League. Everton are expected to listen to offers, with the Spain Under-21 international already linked with moves to Valencia and Sevilla.
Gossip: Chancel Mbemba
Reports from Belgium (www.voetbalkrant.com) claim that Anderlecht are looking to re-sign Chancel Mbemba but face competition from Celtic.
Former Magpie to West Brom?
The Mail Online report that Mathieu Debuchy could be on his way to West Brom.
Arsenal will consider offering cash plus Mathieu Debuchy to West Bromwich Albion for Jonny Evans. The 30-year-old defender also has interest from Manchester City as Albion prepare to cash in on the Northern Ireland international. Evans joined from Manchester United for £6million in 2015 and is now valued at £30million with 18 months remaining on his contract.
Mitrovic to Marseille?
Reports from France suggest Magpies have attempted to offload Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Reports: Benitez needs to sell before he buys?
Reports suggest that Benitez will need to sell some players before he buy as United’s January transfer window continues to drag. This from the Sun
Rafa Benitez is locked in a transfer stand-off with Newcastle having been told he must sell before he can buy. The Toon boss is desperate to bring in new faces this month but has been ordered to trim his squad down first.
Gossip: Danny Ings
We know Newcastle United hold a strong interest in Liverpool’s Danny Ings and Rafa Benitez would love to take him on loan. Football.London report that West Ham are ready to make a move.
Danny Ings could be set to join West Ham this month as David Moyes looks to boost his attacking options as the Hammers look to secure their Premier League status for another season. But the Irons will face stiff competition from some top-flight strugglers as Newcastle and West Brom are both interested in a move for the 25-year-old this month.
Gossip: Kelechi Iheanacho
Claude Puel is reported to be ready to let Kelechi Iheanacho leave Leicester City despite the striker only joining in the summer for £25m. The Sun reports the Nigerian will be allowed to leave after failing to impress. The former Manchester City striker was linked to Newcastle in the summer.
Chris Waugh on Jonjo Shelvey's potential exit
This from Chris Waugh as reports emerge that Shelvey is edging closer to a West Ham deal .
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez does not expect Premier League relegation rivals to do significant business with each other this month - seemingly ruling out moves for West Ham United’s Joe Hart and Diafra Sakho. The Hammers also hold an interest in Magpies midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, but Benitez would be reluctant to sell the England international to a club who are currently level on points with Newcastle
You can read the full story here.
Gossip: Jonjo Shelvey
Jonjo Shelvey is nearing a move to West Ham according to the Daily Express.
Talks between the two clubs have progressed over the last couple of days but the St James’s Park club want to make sure they have a replacement lined up before the deal is finalised. Hammers manager David Moyes is determined to strengthen the centre of his midfield, and Londoner Shelvey, 25, who has been in and out of Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle side this season, is at the top of his list of targets. Shelvey is on an £80,000-a-week contract at Newcastle but West Ham are ready to spend this month to ensure that Moyes can continue his task of wresting the club away from the Premier League relegation zone.
Tim Krul on Toon takeover
He’s dreaming about the success it might bring.
I’ve said it for years; that was the time to invest. Imagine if we had somebody who really backed the team. Can you imagine the city? I would love to see it happen. I think it can. Why not? The set-up is there, the passion, the fans. But we keep saying it.
FA Cup draw
Newcastle were handed a very tough draw in the FA Cup fourth round last night. The Magpies were drawn against either Norwich or Chelsea away from home.
Lee Ryder with the full story and his video verdict...
Morning - January exiteers
Good morning and welcome to today’s live blog.
Which players could leave Newcastle this month?