James Tarkowski is one of the players that Newcastle United have a realistic chance of signing in January, according to The Telegraph's Luke Edwards. 

The lowdown

Edwards and Telegraph colleague Mike McGrath reported in October that Newcastle would have a budget of around £50m for the mid-season transfer window.

The Magpies find themselves 19th in the Premier League after picking up only five points from their first 11 matches and Eddie Howe, whose appointment was confirmed on Monday, has been tasked with keeping them in the top flight.

The latest

Tarkowski will be into the final six months of his contract in January and has been told that he can leave if Burnley's valuation is met.

Edwards also names four other potential options, including Manchester United's Jesse Lingard, who he feels would be an 'excellent addition'. Meanwhile, Harry Winks is 'the sort of defensive midfield player Eddie Howe liked at Bournemouth' and is a peripheral figure at Tottenham Hotspur.

A loan move for Chelsea's Ross Barkley could also interest the new manager, while Atletico Madrid's Kieran Trippier is 'very keen' to come back to England and would represent a 'major upgrade' on the existing full-back options, according to Edwards.

The verdict

If you add up the Transfermarkt valuations of the five players mentioned, it comes to £93.6m.

Loan moves for players like Barkley and Lingard could be possible, but it's clear that the Mapgies will need to prioritise if they are to keep to that aforementioned budget.

Their biggest concern should be strengthening defensively given that their goal concession record is the second-worst in the Premier League. Adding top-flight proven players in Tarkowski and Trippier, as well as the protection of Winks, could be enough to keep them up if they can provide greater solidity to Newcastle's back line.

In other news, one of Newcastle's top Director of Football targets has reached a decision