Newcastle United sign £50m forward alongside Bundesliga winner as defender departs - AI predicts transfers

Newcastle United failed to make a single signing during the January transfer window in a subdued month of incomings which has divided the opinion of the St James’ Park faithful.

In some people’s eyes, sporting director Paul Mitchell has been lauded as a genius after securing the £20m departure of utility defender Lloyd Kelly just six months after his arrival on a free while also earning a reported £10m for an out-of-form Miguel Almiron who had been struggling to get near the heights he reached in 2022/23.

Sales on Tyneside were undoubtedly necessary to avoid a repeat of the saga that occurred on 30 June 2024, when young prospects Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh were reluctantly sold against Eddie Howe’s wishes to meet PSR regulations.

However, others have been left underwhelmed by Newcastle’s lack of activity and their inability to capitalise on a fruitful winter period which put the club on the brink of reaching a League Cup final and firmly in the race for Champions League qualification after a club-record nine wins in a row. There are also concerns over squad depth, with Jacob Murphy being the club’s only natural right winger option after Almiron’s departure - and Kelly’s exit leaving Newcastle with a lack of cover in the centre-back and left-back area.

Whatever your standpoint, it is understood by Newcastle World reporters that the Magpies will aim to be the hunter rather than the hunted in the upcoming transfer window, meaning fans can brace themselves for many exciting arrivals.With that in mind, we asked AI to predict what might happen in the summer transfer window at St James’ Park.

Yet another goalkeeper signing

Newcastle United built a strange reputation for signing goalkeepers last summer with the likes of John Ruddy and Odysseas Vlachodimos both arriving over the summer to replace Loris Karius - and add to the existing trio of first choice goalkeepers Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka along with the more peripheral figure of Mark Gillespie.

However, AI is anticipating that history will repeat itself on Tyneside with yet another shake-up in the goalkeeping department - this time coming in the signing of James Trafford from Burnley.

Newcastle World understands Trafford had agreed personal terms with the Magpies over the summer, but claims the deal ultimately broke down to Burnley’s high valuation. The England Under-21 goalkeeper has done his reputation no harm this season with 21 clean sheets this season while only conceding nine times in 30 matches for Scott Parker’s men.

At 22-years-of-age, the towering 6ft 6in shot-stopper would likely arrive as a replacement for the soon-to-be out-of-contract Martin Dubravka to compete with Nick Pope.

Two marquee defensive additions

Newcastle United’s sale of Lloyd Kelly leaves the club fairly short on centre back options with Dan Burn, Fabian Schar and Sven Botman currently competing for a starting place.

The Magpies made no secret of their desire to sign a centre-back with a long-running pursuit of Marc Guehi over the summer as well as a failed effort to sign Tosin Adariaboyo. In the end, the club’s only signing Lloyd Kelly departed, meaning centre-back will once again be a priority in the next window.

AI claims Newcastle’s most likely additions will come in the form of Bournemouth centre-back Illya Zabarnyi along with Bayer Leverkusen star Piero Hincapie, who formed part of Xabi Alonso’s invincible Bundesliga-winning teams last season. Elsewhere, defender Matt Targett, who was signed for £15m is expected to leave for just a third of that price in the summer. He was the subject of a late January loan bid from Watford which was ultimately rejected.

A new-look frontline

Newcastle United are yet to sign a right-sided winger in the PIF era and recently allowed former club-record signing Miguel Almiron to return to the MLS.

The Magpies are incredibly short on squad depth in that area and are predicted by AI to go big with an effort to sign Brentford talisman Bryan Mbuemo. The 25-year-old has an estimated value of around £60m but is likely to be the subject of strong competition from various clubs including Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal.

Elsewhere, with Callum Wilson approaching the last few months of his contract, Newcastle are likely to be in the market to sign further competition upfront to accompany starman Alexander Isak.

One name that has been heavily linked, who would be a dream target from a PSR perspective, is Lille talisman Jonathan David. The pacey Canadian has already proven himself against Europe’s elite with goals against Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid this season and is expected to be available on a free transfer.