Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has urged his former club to splash the cash and thinks they will need to bring in three players in the January transfer window.
A £300 million takeover of the club was completed earlier this month, with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) financing the move amidst heavy criticism over the country’s human rights record.
With the PIF valued at around £320 billion Newcastle are now the richest club in the Premier League and fans will be hoping their new owners invest in success on the pitch in a way that former owner Mike Ashley never did.
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Before any success must come survival, and that will likely require significant business in the transfer market as the club is one place off the bottom of the Premier League with just four points after nine games.
Winless this season, something needs to change for Newcastle if they want to avoid dropping down into the Championship, and Shearer believes that will require the new owners to get spending when the transfer window opens in January.
According to Football365, the all time Premier League top scorer ‘expects action’ in the transfer market and has identified some positions he thinks his former club should target as a priority.
Shearer told the Que Golazo YouTube channel, "There will be players who will be desperate to come to Newcastle to prove themselves and to improve the squad because that is, without doubt, is what is needed. We could do with players straight down the spine.
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"They’ve been poor defensively, they need a defender or two, certainly a creative midfielder. And with Callum Wilson, his career will tell you he will pick up injuries and won’t play every game.
"So they need another forward to put the ball in the back of the net to try and take the burden away from him for when he is and isn’t playing. So three players without a doubt, a centre-half, a creative midfielder and a forward."
Now they’ve got money to spend Newcastle are being linked with all sorts of players but it is often hard to get business done in January as many clubs don’t want to lose talented stars mid-way through the season.
It would also help if the club knew who their manager was before spending big in January.
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Steve Bruce was sacked shortly after the takeover and Graeme Jones has taken charge as caretaker manager while the new hierarchy works out who their next permanent appointment is going to be.
Since the takeover Newcastle have been linked with moves for players such as Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski, Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek and Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette.
Who they will go for and who they can get in January won’t be fully known until the transfer window opens, but many Newcastle fans will agree with Shearer’s assessment that the club needs to spend money sooner rather than later if they want to stay in the Premier League, let alone become one of the top teams in the division.
Featured Image Credit: PA ImagesTopics: Alan Shearer, Newcastle United, Transfers