The Migrating Magpie: Coming home for Boxing Day

With the Premier League scheduled to return in less than 24 hours, one of the more exciting (or exhausting, depending on your perspective) windows begins on January 1st.

Newcastle are in a unique position now as a club with flexible financial means to afford marquee transfers. On the flip side, they are competing for the European spots and are not likely to be considered a destination where top English clubs can send loanees to accumulate valuable minutes.

Here’s what’s been circulated around the news cycle during the past few days and hours.

James Maddison, Leicester City

- While James Maddison of Leicester City was heavily linked to the Magpies this summer, Manager Brendan Rodgers famously said the proposed fee was equitable to “three-quarters of his left leg.”

Rodgers recently told The Mirror that Leicester’s leading scorer so far this season (7 goals) “will remain,” and that he has had “no indication there are plans for a sale.”

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Man Utd

United fans have long lambasted the €56M transfer of right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but after a strong assist-producing performance in the EFL Cup this week, The Sun and other media outlets are anticipating a profitable transfer for a replacement is already in the works.

This pits them against Newcastle, who must find a viable backup for Keiran Trippier while Emil Krafth awaits a timetable for his season-ending injury.

Allan Saint-Maximin, Newcastle

While much was made of ASM’s friendship with French compatriot Marcus Thuram in the headlines, Football.London delivered a quote from Eddie Howe downplaying the Magpie’s interest only to ultimately bolster the Gooner's faithful when it comes to acquiring the forward.

For what it’s worth the young attacker, on the verge of superstardom after his extraordinary World Cup outings, was bound to attract dozens of suitors.

Still donning Borussia Monchengladbach threads, Thuram has been linked to the usual suspects in Barcelona, Man United, Liverpool, and Arsenal.

Cody Gakpo, PSV

Finally, the bulk of transfer hysteria has been directed at the transfer of the young Dutch attacker Cody Gakpo. However, Mundo Deportivo is reporting that Newcastle have already made a bid of around €20M for his attacking countryman and Barcelona forward Memphis Depay.

Nevertheless, many will find these reports quite dubious, as Barcelona and their adjacent media minions have been linking high-priced and underperforming attackers to Premier League clubs for the last year in an effort to rebuild their squad.

What did we miss? If you have any thoughts or have been seeing other possible transfers let us know in the comment section below!