Report: Newcastle chiefs discuss potential £60m signing this week as January plans outlined

Newcastle United's board are set to sit down this week to map out their strategy for the January transfer window.

The Newcastle board are taking the time afforded to them by the international break to get together and come up with a plan for January when the transfer window opens again.

Newcastle ended the summer transfer window pleading poverty, so it's unlikely there's going to be a huge spending spree in January, however, the sale of a few players who they were unable to shift in the summer could facilitate some incoming business.

The likes of Emil Krafth and Javier Manquillo remain on the books at Newcastle with uncertain futures ahead of them. Either or both could make way in January if Newcastle are looking to being in reinforcements.

There is a thinking that Newcastle still need to add strength and depth to the centre-back role after failing to bring anyone in for that position in the summer.

However, TeamTalk are reporting that Newcastle could be looking at £60million-rated midfielder Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal.

The England midfielder has played just nine Premier League minutes for Arsenal this season as he's fallen down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta and Newcastle could be set to offer him a way out.

Smith Rowe has shown he has the quality, he made it into the England side before falling out of favour at Arsenal and losing his spot.

Still only 23, Smith Rowe has plenty of years ahead of him and is a prime candidate for the Eddie Howe treatment.

But, is yet another midfielder really a priority right now? I'm not so sure.

Much like Kalvin Phillips, I definitely rate him, but from the outside looking in, he's just not a player Newcastle need right now.

Of course, Eddie Howe and the Newcastle staff know a lot more than I do, so if they believe that's what we need, I'm going to trust their judgement over my own.