According to reports in the Shields Gazette, Newcastle United are hopeful of securing loan moves to bring Everton winger Aaron Lennon and Leicester City striker Islam Slimani to St James’ Park before the January transfer window slams shut.
What’s the word, then?
Well, even though Magpies boss Rafa Benitez said last month that he wanted all of his business done and signings through the door by January 20, he is yet to get a single one with no progress in a potential takeover.
Benitez may be forced to look at the loan market unless he is given significant funds by owner Mike Ashley, and the Shields Gazette says that the Spaniard is keen on Lennon, who is out of contract at Goodison Park in the summer, and out of favour Foxes centre-forward Slimani.
The report adds that the Tyneside outfit are able to sign two players on loan from other Premier League clubs, and they have also been heavily linked with a move for Chelsea’s Kenedy.
How have Lennon and Slimani done this season?
The former barely featured under previous Everton boss Ronald Koeman, but under caretaker manager David Unsworth and now Sam Allardyce he has been something of a regular, although the majority of his Premier League appearances in recent weeks have come from the substitutes’ bench.
The 30-year-old has picked up two assists in 19 outings in all competitions, but the return of Yannick Bolasie from injury and the addition of Theo Walcott from Arsenal is likely to push him further down the pecking order, and he looks unlikely to be offered a new deal.
Meanwhile, Slimani has featured a little more in recent weeks when Jamie Vardy has been absent, but the Algeria international – who has netted five times in 17 games this season – has still only started one Premier League match since September, and Foxes boss Claude Puel admitted that he could leave this month on Thursday.
Would they be good signings for Newcastle?
They certainly could be yes.
Lennon would provide some pace and much-needed experience to the Magpies frontline, while Slimani could be the goalscoring centre-forward that they are missing right now.
Having only netted 21 goals in 23 top flight games Benitez certainly needs to strengthen his attack, and both players would have a big point to prove in the second-half of the campaign if he moved to St James’ Park.
