‘I’m told’: Fabrizio Romano makes Newcastle transfer claim which Alan Shearer will surely love

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Newcastle United are likely to be busy in the January transfer window as they look to secure their Premier League status.

The Magpies are effectively the richest football club in the world following their takeover by a Saudi-led consortium.

However, Newcastle sit a lowly 19th in the Premier League table and are yet to win in the top flight this season.

The new Magpies owners have already made a big change in the dugout, replacing Steve Bruce with Eddie Howe.

And in January, Newcastle could well bolster their ranks in hope of surviving in the league this season and then building on it in the summer.

Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE, Fabrizio Romano gave an insight into what the St James’ Park hierarchy is looking for in January.

‘I’m told for January they want a centre-back, a creative midfielder and a striker,” he said.

“This is the list for Newcastle in January then let’s see what the new director will decide.

“But this could be the potential list for Newcastle, these three positions.”

Newcastle’s spine could certainly do with bolstering, and Romano’s claim will surely be appreciated by Toon legend Alan Shearer, who recently called for strengthening in those same positions.

In October, Shearer told CBS Podcast Que Golazo, as quoted by Chronicle Live: “We could do with players straight down the spine.

“They’ve been poor defensively – one of the worst defences so it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out what they need, they need a defender or two.

“Certainly a creative midfielder, and… another forward to put the ball in the back of the net to try and take the burden away from (Callum Wilson) for when he is and isn’t playing.

“So three players without a doubt – a centre-half, a creative midfielder and a forward to put the ball in the back of the net.”

Howe’s tenure at St James’ Park gets underway with a Premier League home meeting with Brentford on Saturday.