Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is just over a month away from entering his first transfer window in charge of the club.

The former Bournemouth head coach has inherited a Magpies team rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, so January could be crucial to the club's attempts to retain their position in the top tier of English football.

Statement signing

The Magpies could truly kickstart the Howe era at St James' Park by making a statement signing in the January transfer window to show that they mean business and stay in the division. They can get away from the grim Mike Ashley days of old and propel themselves towards a brighter future by landing a huge deal, namely the addition of Luka Modric from Real Madrid.

Tottenham, Manchester City and Newcastle have all been touted as potential destinations for the Croatian, whose contract at the Bernabeu expires at the end of the season. PIF could swoop in during the January window to snap him up from the Spanish giants by offering them a chance to rake in a fee for his services instead of losing him for nothing.

This could allow Howe to bolster his squad for the second half of the campaign, whilst it also allows Real Madrid to reinvest some of the potential funds in order to find a replacement. That is why it could be a viable deal for PIF to complete, should Modric not want to sign an extension in the Spanish capital.

He could be a gigantic signing on and off the pitch. Firstly, it would show a real sign of intent from PIF and Howe and potentially convince other players to join, as Modric's vast experience in the game highlights his stature among other players. He has won a Ballon d'Or and four Champions League titles in his career, whilst playing well over 500 games for Tottenham and Real Madrid combined.

Secondly, he still has the quality to make an impact on the pitch. Former Galactico and Brazil legend Kaka previously claimed that football is 'like a dance' for the £275k-per-week gem, who he showered with praise.

He said: "Luka [Modric] shows us that it's easy to play. Believe me it's really really hard to play football. To play the World Cup it's even harder. And he plays like it's normal. It's like a dance for him.

"And now he's this amazing player at a high level. Four Champions Leagues, a World Cup final and being the captain of his team."

Last season, the veteran midfielder averaged an excellent WhoScored rating of 7.15 across 35 La Liga outings for the Spanish giants. He provided five goals and three assists from the middle of the park, showing that he is able to consistently perform to a high level despite his age.

Therefore, Newcastle could kickstart the Howe era by landing Modric and increasing the club's profile off the pitch, whilst improving the team and boosting their chances of staying in the Premier League at the same time.

AND in other news, NUFC to blow rivals out of the water for potential £29.5m deal, fans surely ecstatic...