Newcastle United have made a strong impression in European competitions this season, with a notable 4-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League return at St James’ Park. Despite a recent setback against Borussia Dortmund, Eddie Howe sees the PSG win as a foundation for their season. Their success on the European stage is making them a more appealing destination for top talent, potentially leading to additional signings during the upcoming January transfer window and next summer. This could include a prominent player from the Bundesliga.
Newcastle’s summer transfer window hasn’t aged well due to Harvey Barnes’ injury struggles and Sandro Tonali facing a 10-month ban for betting violations. The Tonali situation has hit the team hard, forcing them to explore the transfer market to bolster their midfield. While this challenge was unexpected for Howe, it could result in the acquisition of another high-caliber player.
Recent reports on Exequiel Palacios suggest that he might be on Newcastle’s radar. According to TeamTalk, several clubs, including Manchester City, PSG, Atletico Madrid, and Burnley, have been monitoring the midfielder in recent months. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) has been impressed by his performance.
Securing Palacios might require swift action, given the considerable interest from multiple clubs in signing the Leverkusen player in the near future. Newcastle has demonstrated their ability to attract talent in the past, as seen with the signing of Bruno Guimaraes, and they will need a similar persuasive effort to tempt Palacios away from the Bundesliga in the coming months.
| Player | Goals | Assists | Interceptions |
| Exequiel Palacios | 2 | 2 | 15 |
| Bruno Guimaraes | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Sean Longstaff | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Palacios has been a standout performer at the core of Bayer Leverkusen, a team that remains undefeated in all competitions and leads the Bundesliga under Xabi Alonso’s leadership. Palacios’ statistics underscore his importance to the team this season, especially when compared to the current midfielders at Newcastle. Although Newcastle is on track for a title challenge at Leverkusen, convincing Palacios to join in January will be a formidable task, given the praise he has received in Germany, including compliments from Alonso, who emphasized his self-confidence and ambition after winning the World Cup.
