Rafa Benitez
Newcastle United are in need of an injection of fresh blood into the squad in the January transfer window with the relegation battle looming large.
The Magpies are 15th in the Premier League standings with just 18 points from 21 matches (W4, D6, L11). Currently, they are two points above the relegation zone. Rafa Benitez’s side has picked up just one win in their last 8 games and are in desperate need of new additions to a squad that has been stretched thin.
To that end, here we look at three players from the EFL Championship that Newcastle should look to sign in January as they look to salvage their season;
Nick Powell has grown into one of the finest attacking midfielders in England’s lower divisions over the past couple of years and could make a huge difference at Newcastle United.
The former Manchester United midfielder was instrumental in helping Wigan Athletic achieve promotion back to the EFL Championship last season and has continued to make huge strides in the English second division this time out. So far in the 2018/19 term, the 24-year-old has bagged 4 goals and set up 5 more in 18 appearances with his progress being somewhat stalled by an injury he picked up last month.
A powerful presence in the No.10 position, Powell has the ability to create and score in equal measure as seen by his performances for Wigan over the past year or so. Signing him would provide the Magpies with an added source of goals from the midfield and that would help them since they lack in-form strikers besides Salomon Rondon.
Moreover, Powell is in the final year of his contract and will be available at a bargain price this month – all the more reason for the Tynesiders to swoop in.
Dack joined Blackburn in the summer of 2017 from Gillingham and played a huge role in helping them earn promotion to the Championship. Dack plundered 18 goals and set up 9 more in 42 League One matches last season, helping his team to a second-place finish and automatic promotion.
And the Englishman has carried on from where he left off last season. So far in the 2018/19 campaign, the midfielder has bagged 12 goals and assisted 7 more in 24 appearances across all competitions.
A naturally gifted attack-minded midfielder, the 24-year-old has the ability to create goals aplenty with defence-splitting through passes and can find the back of the net with the utmost regularity. Dack also possesses the ability to drive at opponents with his dribbling skills and can cause problems with his sharp movement and intelligent link-up play.
With Newcastle crying out for a No.10 who can contribute with goals, Dack would be the ideal addition that Benitez is craving for in his squad.
The 22-year-old Maupay is in his second year with Brentford, having joined the club from St. Etienne in the summer of 2017. He had a fairly solid debut campaign in England as he produced returns of 13 goals and 5 assists in 46 appearances across all competitions last season.
The Frenchman has stepped on the gas in the 2018/19 term and has started the campaign in belligerent form. So far in the ongoing season, Maupay has already scored 15 goals and set up 6 more in 24 Championship appearances. In fact, the 22-year-old is the joint second-highest goal-getter in the English second division along with Norwich City’s Teemu Pukki.
A quality finisher, the Frenchman is at his best when playing as a centre-forward. But if needed, he can also play the role of a wide attacker and as a No.10. The former French U21 international possesses blistering pace that allows him to breeze past defenders. He also has the ability to play with his back to the goal and hold up the ball to bring his teammates into play.
Blessed with versatility and all-around abilities, the 22-year-0ld Maupay will only get better from here on and could prove to be the ideal foil for Salomon Rondon as Newcastle seek to avoid the relegation battle in the second half of the campaign.
