Newcastle United will focus on Premier League-proven players in the January transfer window, Italian agent Andrea Boscolo has told Tutto Mercato Web (via Sport Witness).
The lowdown
The Northern Echo's Scott Wilson reported on Monday that Eddie Howe's preference was to target players who have delivered in the English top flight. The report named James Tarkowski, Jesse Lingard, Divock Origi and Oleksandr Zinchenko as candidates who fit that particular bill.
It is shaping up to be a crucial transfer window for the Magpies as they seek to avoid relegation. They are currently rock bottom of the Premier League, having failed to win any of their first 12 matches in the division.
The latest
Bosconi, who is based in England, was asked what market Newcastle would look to 'play' at the turn of the year. He predicted that January would be a 'national transfer window' before hinting that there could well be interest in Serie A stars come the summer.
"They absolutely have to save the season, they have taken Howe who knows the local market and I think they will go with players who already know the Premier League," he told Tutto Mercato Web (via Sport Witness).
"It will be a national transfer window, then this summer, without problems with Fair Play, they will give you a lot to write."
The verdict
You can understand Newcastle's domestic-focused strategy for the mid-season transfer window. They can't really afford to give players time to adapt to the Premier League, and they certainly can't afford to take risks which don't pay off.
They are set to look at players like Tarkowski, who has made 171 English top-flight appearances, as trusted quantities who can all but guarantee improvement.
The Magpies made an astute domestic addition last January, of course, in the form of Joe Willock, who proceeded to bang in eight goals in 11 starts, inspiring a late surge up the table. Whoever they bring in from a Premier League rival in a few weeks' time, hopefully they can have a similar impact at St James' Park.
In other news, could this be one of Newcastle's Serie A targets for the future?