Newcastle United returned to the Premier League last season after pipping Brighton to the Championship title, and Geordie fans here in The Transfer Tavern are delighted with their side’s progress in the Premier League.

The Magpies faithful often park themselves in the booths by the pool table, and many harbour the realistic goal that achieving survival in their first season back at the highest level would amount to a successful campaign. However, our landlord broke some difficult news to fans, with reports in The Daily Mail suggesting the Burnley manager Sean Dyche is lining up a move for star winger Matt Ritchie in the coming days.

A blow should a move materialise, Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez must find a replacement, and in a chat with Magpies fans over a game of pool, our landlord couldn’t help but suggest moves for this pair should Ritchie depart for Turf Moor in the next few weeks…

Jurgen Locadia

Ritchie is a dangerous creative force in this Newcastle team, but the former Bournemouth winger just isn’t scoring the goals required to be considered a top-class winger at Premier League level. If Ritchie does leave then Benitez should look for a player with goals in his locker, and should look no further than PSV Eindhoven’s Jurgen Locadia.

The winger has been sensational in the Dutch top-flight this season, banging in nine goals in just fifteen Eredivisie appearances, and Benitez should consider raiding the Dutch giants this month. The 24-year-old has impressed in his homeland for several years, and now appears ready to finally make the switch to a top European league. Locadia could be available for around a similar fee Ritchie heads to Burnley for, and the promising player could be the man to take Newcastle to the next level this season.

Leon Bailey

The Jamaican winger has been linked with a move to a host of top European clubs, but should reported interest fail to materialise, Newcastle could steal a charge on the promising young star. Blessed with electric pace, the 20-year-old could be available for a fairly realistic fee should current club Bayer Leverkusen decide to sell this month, and there is no reason why Benitez won’t be able to convince the player to spend the next eighteen months in the north east.

Switching to a ‘smaller’ Premier League side could allow the player to adapt to the demands of the division before making a switch to the top-four, potentially allowing the transition to the higher level to be smoother. Of course, Newcastle would make a monster profit on the player should such a course of events play out, and this could be the real shock of the window.

Newcastle fans, do you think your side is big enough to pull deals off for either of these players? Let us know!