Jesse Lingard’s potential arrival on Tyneside could give Eddie Howe’s squad the morale boost it desperately needs to stay the Premier League.
The Manchester Utd midfielder is linked with a move to Newcastle before the January 31 deadline, with former club West Ham also vying for his signature.
The 29-year-old has not started a top-flight game for the Red Devils this season and, with six months remaining on his contract, Lingard’s days at Old Trafford appear numbered.