Newcastle United's staggering £100m January transfer window predicted - including Arsenal and Brighton deals

Newcastle United have enjoyed an improved run of form recently, with the likes of Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes reaching the top of their game and pulling the Magpies back into contention for a return to European football next season.

Following their controversial takeover back in 2021, Newcastle haven't splashed the cash with quite the gusto some expected, with the club operating carefully to avoid the kind of financial issues currently facing the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea. That said, it hasn't stopped some arguing for the Magpies to break the rules and take the punishment in a bold, short-term pain, long-term gain strategy.

While the glamorous signings haven't exactly been streaming through the doors, Newcastle's squad is looking a lot stronger these days, and there are hopes that the club will kick on in the upcoming transfer windows to add further strength to their ranks.

Ahead of the January transfer window creaking open in just a few days time, we cranked up the ever-addictive Football Manager and simulated the Magpies' upcoming winter business. This is every player the club are predicted to sign.

Adam Webster - Brighton - Loan

Right, not exactly the most enthralling of starts it must be said. Newcastle kicked things off by shrewdly bringing in some much needed defensive cover, bringing in Brighton centre-back Adam Webster on a loan deal with an option to buy for £19m. He's fallen out of favour at the AMEX in recent times and has had his fair share of injury problems, so a move away from the south coast does actually make sense.

Hiroki Ito - Bayern Munich - £30m

After just six months with the Bavarian giants, he opted to leave the Bundesliga to join up with Newcastle. The versatile Japan international can play as a left full-back or in the heart of defence, and represented a tidy, if rather unusual bit of business from the Magpies.

Bryan Cristante - Roma - £25m

He was linked with a big-money move to Tottenham last summer, and reports suggest he could well be on the move next month. Football Manager reckons it will be Newcastle who win the race for the experienced Italian midfielder, who has been capped 43 times at senior level. The dynamic 29-year-old added some serious grit to the Magpies' midfield engine room.

Casper Tengstedt - Benfica - £4.8m

A 24-year-old Danish striker not exactly known for scoring a glut of goals, this budget deal is a surprising one. The Magpies tied up the deal in January, but it wouldn't go through until the summer, once the former Midtjylland starlet finished off a season-long loan spell with Hellas Verona.

Guilherme Arana - Atletico Mineiro - £13.75m

Deadline day saw the Magpies delve back into the market, opening the day by concluding a deal for a new left-back to compete with Lewis Hall. The 11-time international has never played outside of his native Brazil, but the 27-year-old has picked up a dazzling array of silverware in his home country. A lovely bit of business.

Leandro Trossard - Arsenal - £30m

Boom. Newcastle left it late to sneak this one over the line, with the Belgian winger coming in for a tasty fee. Starved of first team football in north London, Trossard rejected the alluring prospect of a mega-money to Saudi Arabia, opting instead to remain in the Premier League with the Magpies.

So, there we have it. £100m spent, and a mere £14m brought in from sales, most of which came from Matthew Targett leaving to join Sean Dyche's Everton. Perhaps Newcastle are going to throw caution to the wind with FFP and PSR after all...