Newcastle United now have 22-year-old winger in their sights - Paul Mitchell knows him well

Profit and Sustainability Rules are going to dictate what Newcastle United can do in the January transfer window with everyone hoping that the club can find some funds to improve the squad in some way.

While we're not expecting big signings in January, we're hoping for some improvements after being starved of new first-team players for the past two transfer windows.

A winger is a high-priority for Newcastle, but there's a belief that PSR will make it very difficult for the Magpies to sign a quality winger in January as they aren't likely to come cheap.

Bryan Mbeumo and Antoine Semenyo have been touted as 'dream' signings for Newcastle but both are expected to cost in excess of £50 million making them very unlikely to join in the winter.

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Newcastle are watching 22-year-old Maghnes Akliouche of Monaco

However, iNews have now reported that Newcastle have their eye on 22-year-old Monaco star Maghnes Akliouche as a player who may not tick all the boxes right now but could be developed to do so.

Obviously, Newcastle need quality down the right wing ASAP, but Paul Mitchell, who was the sporting director at Monaco before coming to Newcastle, will know Akliouche well and will know if he could develop while also playing in the first-team.

Akliouche has four goals and four assists in 19 appearances this season with three of those goal involvements coming in six outings in the Champions League.

Paul Mitchell could be Newcastle's ace up their sleeve

The Frenchman is turning heads but Newcastle will hope that the Paul Mitchell connection could put them at the front of the queue.

There's no indication of what it could cost Newcastle to prise him away from Monaco, but it's likely to be much less than the likes of Mbeumo and Semenyo.

It's definitely a name worth looking out for in the future.