Here is your 4am Newcastle United digest.
Simeone and Baran links
The Magpies have been inevitably linked with a host of names in both the Premier League and abroad following the takeover last month.
The latest duo to be linked with a mid-season switch to St James' Park are Hellas Verona pair Giovanni Simeone and Antonin Barak.
The report carried by L’Arena via TuttoHellasVerona claims the Serie A outfit would be willing to part with the striker and midfielder for a combined fee in the region of £33m.
Simeone, the son of Atletico Madrid boss Diego, is second in the domestic scoring charts only to Ciro Immobile with nine strikes in 11 appearances.
The 26-year-old is currently on loan from Cagliari, and Hellas Verona reportedly hold a £10m option to make the deal permanent. The report claims the club would be keen to trigger this deal to bank a quick profit.
Meanwhile, Czech Republic international Barak has chipped in with four Serie A goals so far from midfield.
Phillips' £75m claim
Pundit Kevin Phillips believes Newcastle United's owners will hand Eddie Howe a January transfer warchest in the region of £75m.
He told Football Insider: "Well, they don’t want to go out there and get a couple of decent defenders. They need top-class defenders who are going to help the club over the next four or five seasons.
“To build a solid backline costs money.
“I think the owners will give Howe close to £75million in January. You’d think that is nothing for owners as wealthy as they are. I’m sure the funds will be there for Howe.”
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