Newcastle are the favourites to gain promotion to the Premier League after a strong first half of the season.
Rafa Benitez has done an excellent job after agreeing to stay at the club, despite relegation to the Championship at the end of last season.
They will now need to bring in players that are able to make the step up to the top division as they need to be prepared if they do make the step up as expected.
There are funds to be spent after the club brought in £30 million for Moussa Sissoko on deadline day in the summer and Benitez will want to use that to strengthen his squad next month.
Here at The Boot Room we look at three options Benitez should consider to strengthen his squad…
Marco van Ginkel
Although he hasn’t managed to feature for the Chelsea first team this season, the midfielder has a good pedigree and will be an attractive option for several clubs in January.
The Dutchman is a complete midfielder and was utilised in a box-to-box role at PSV during the second half of last season. He possesses a good passing range and is able to influence matches in the final third. However, his work rate, tenacity and reading of the game means that he can contribute defensively as well.
At the age of 24, there is plenty of room to improve and he would benefit from a few months in the Championship to adapt physically to English football.
Newcastle need another centre midfielder to provide competition for Jonjo Shelvey. There is nobody else that is able to dictate the tempo of the game like the Englishman and with his impending ban, Newcastle need to correct that in January.
Moreover, they need to add quality across the pitch ahead of next season and Van Ginkel would certainly qualify as that. He is a Dutch international who still has a lot to achieve in the game.
The midfielder is surplus to requirements at Chelsea and would be available for a reasonable fee. He would be an exciting signing if Newcastle were able to take him to St James’ Park.