Newcastle United are back in action in the Premier League on Saturday as they prepare to welcome Fulham to St. James’ Park on the first day of February.
The Magpies are fighting to secure a place in the Champions League for the 2025/26 campaign and are currently fifth in the division, level on points with Manchester City in fourth place.
They are set to clash with the Cottagers in February but, much to the surprise of some supporters potentially, the January transfer window will still be open for business.
The deadline is not until Monday night and this means that the Magpies still have a few more days to explore potential additions to their squad for the second half of the season, in order to bolster their push for a place in the Champions League.
Newcastle may, however, be wary of panicking towards the deadline and could decide to keep their powder dry until the summer, when they could look to invest in the group ahead of next season.
In fact, Eddie Howe and his recruitment team are reportedly looking at a Premier League star who could be a target for the club at the end of this term.
Newcastle United eyeing Premier League forward
According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle United are one of a number of clubs that are keen on a deal to snap up Brentford sensation Bryan Mbeumo in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The report claims that the Magpies, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur have all shown a concrete interest in the Cameroon international, who has caught the eye in the Premier League this season.
It states that all three of those teams are keeping tabs on his situation with the Bees ahead of the summer, when there could be an opportunity to secure a deal for his services.
The left-footed winger’s contract with Brentford is due to expire in the summer of 2026 and TEAMtalk suggests that his situation could tempt the Bees to listen to offers for him, to avoid losing him for nothing the following year.
TEAMtalk adds that the Premier League club have no interest in selling him in the current January transfer window, but reveals that Mbeumo would be open to moving on from the club if a side with European football comes in for him.
The report does not state how much the Bees would want for the right winger in the summer, but it has previously been reported that it would take a fee of up to £60m to seal a transfer for him.
It remains to be seen, however, whether or not the Magpies are willing to pay £60m to bring him to St. James’ Park, or if Mbeumo would pick a move to Tyneside over signing for Spurs or Liverpool.
Newcastle are in the market for a new right winger to come in and bolster their squad, whether it is now or in the summer, after Miguel Almiron completed a move to Atlanta United this week.
Miguel Almiron’s form his season
The Paraguay international ended his career with the Magpies with a return of 30 goals in 223 appearances in all competitions, but failed to register a single goal contribution in the 2024/25 campaign.
Almiron managed just three goals and one assist in 33 appearances in the Premier League last season, which meant that he was already struggling to contribute on a regular basis last term.
|
24/25 Premier League |
Miguel Almiron |
|---|---|
|
Appearances (starts) |
9 (1) |
|
Goals |
0 |
|
Assists |
0 |
|
Big chances created |
0 |
|
Key passes per game |
0.3 |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
|
As you can see in the table above, the 30-year-old dud’s form did not improve and he has moved on from St. James’ Park without a goal or an assist in the current season.
Like Mbeumo, Almiron is a left-footed forward who predominantly played on the right flank for the Magpies, as he looked to come infield onto his stronger foot to influence the game.
Unfortunately, though, the Paraguayan attacker failed to make much of an impact in the final third over the past 18 months for Newcastle, and they could land a big upgrade on him by signing the Brentford star in the summer.
Why Mbeumo would be a big upgrade on Almiron
Howe was not getting much back from Almiron in the Premier League and could bring in a winger with the quality to consistently contribute at the top end of the pitch by bringing Mbeumo to Tyneside.
Whilst Almiron rarely stepped up with goals and assists to win points for the Magpies, the Cameroon international has been a star for Brentford in recent seasons.
The 25-year-old ace, who was described as “unplayable” by manager Thomas Frank, has been in particularly impressive form in the Premier League this term.
Mbeumo has racked up 14 goals and three assists in the top-flight for the Bees. However, he has created ten ‘big chances’ for his teammates, and this suggests that the forward is unfortunate to only have three assists to his name as his teammates have let him down at times with their wasteful finishing in front of goal.
|
Premier League (23/24 + 24/25) |
Bryan Mbeumo |
Miguel Almiron |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
48 |
42 |
|
Starts |
45 |
24 |
|
Goals |
23 |
3 |
|
Big chances created |
16 |
6 |
|
Assists |
9 |
1 |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
||
As you can see in the table above, the Cameroon international would arrive at Newcastle as a far better option on the right flank than Almiron was before his permanent move to Atlanta United.
Mbeumo could come in to offer significantly more to the team as both a scorer and a creator of goals in the 2025/26 campaign and beyond, if the Magpies can strike a deal with the Bees to snap him up ahead of Liverpool and Spurs.
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