Newcastle United's recruitment team are keeping an eye on the bigger picture when it comes to the transfer market - and looking beyond merely Eddie Howe's needs for the January window.
Howe himself has stated that things "could change" in the current trading period with work still to be done on potential departures and incoming squad players that can challenge his first-team. However, the window has already resulted in two potential deals ahead of the summer window.
Certainly the days of panic signings such as Islam Slimani, Nabil Bentaleb, Shefki Kuqi, Henri Saivet and Stephen Ireland appear to be behind the club. Structured and purposeful planning on transfers seems to be the order of the day now with Garang Kuol's arrival already showing long-term vision is vital as he prepares to join Hearts on loan.
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Real Valladolid's teenage right-back Ivan Fresneda is one target and having taken a close look at the defender in the La Liga side's recent loss to Real Madrid, when he went up against Vinicius Junior and did well, the scouting mission continued during the Spanish side's narrow loss to Real Mallorca on Sunday.
Fresneda has a list of admirers with Newcastle keen to get a deal done in this window then loan him back to the La Liga outfit. But he isn't the only star in Europe that is interesting the Magpies at the moment.
Borussia Dortmund's teen star Youssoufa Moukoko also fits the bill for Newcastle, but like Fresneda, there is stiff competition for the German international. Dortmund are trying frantically to get him to sign a new deal with the 18-year-old's contract up at the end of the season and able to talk to clubs from abroad.
Chelsea and Barcelona are also eager to to get Moukoko's signature too but free transfers and out of contract players work for Newcastle moving forward due to the FFP situation. United have a keen eye on Bosman deals ahead of the summer window and like Moukoko, along with an extensive list of others, but as Howe said recently they are "assessing the market".
Howe is keen to ensure that no stone is left unturned and his scouting team and sporting director Dan Ashworth looking at a whole host of potential players in both the winter and summer windows. The current window is different to this time last year.
By now Newcastle had signed Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood but this year recruitment might come in the latter stages of the window. And then there is the outgoing business that Howe has already hinted at briefly.
One goalkeeper seems likely to go with Martin Dubravka back but with Karl Darlow's situation uncertain and Mark Gillespie still on the books. Durbavka's chances of getting past Nick Pope appear slim and there is no more cup involvement in store with the Slovakia international cup-tied in the League Cup and Sheff Wed ending hopes in the FA Cup.
A clutch of first-team stars who have barely featured in the Premier League this term are also assessing their futures. But even with a third of the window now in the rear view mirror, plenty could change in the next fotrnight.
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