Mike Ashley is set for disaster at Newcastle United with plans to reject all approaches for Andy Carroll in the January transfer window.

What’s the word?

According to the Chronicle, the Magpies are likely to retain Carroll in the mid-season market despite West Bromwich Albion boss Sam Allardyce being keen on a reunion.

Allardyce worked with Carroll at West Ham United and planned to reconnect with the centre-forward following his appointment at The Hawthorns, believing the Toon may accept a cut-price fee with the striker inside the final six-months of his £75,000-per-week contract.

Newcastle are yet to receive any formal approach for Carroll but are expected to reject any offers should they arrive this month, feeling the Tyneside outfit are not in a position where they should be aiding any potential relegation rival.

Carroll had been frustrated at his limited playing time under Steve Bruce, having only started two of nine Premier League appearances thus far this season, but has been offered assurances that he will get more action in the second half of the campaign despite all four of Newcastle’s central attacking options now being fit.

The 6 ft 3 target man scored his first Newcastle goal since 2010 during the Magpies’ 2-1 loss at home to Leicester City last time out, having come on in the closing stages with United two goals behind.

Making the wrong decision

Newcastle chiefs would be making the wrong decision should they reject any and all approaches for Carroll in the January transfer window and must make a swift U-turn on their verdict before West Brom finalise alternative options.

Carroll has failed to hit the heights Toon fans would have liked when the striker returned to St. James’ Park in 2019, with the 32-year-old taking 34 games to score again in black and white.

Bruce clearly does not consider Carroll to be anything more than an impact man, who has failed to deliver that frequently enough thus far, and would be sacrificing results by handing the £3m-rated dud a more pivotal role in order to see the 9-cap England striker remain in the North East until the end of the season.

Ashley would also be making a horrific business decision by allowing Newcastle to retain Carroll until the summer, as the former Liverpool striker he sold to the Reds for £35m when his stock was at its highest is now bleeding him dry on a £75k-p/w contract.

There is little expectancy of Carroll turning his form around, let alone to become United’s main striker, so must be sold this month.

AND in other news, Steve Bruce must axe a Newcastle lightweight Rafa Benitez once dubbed “a good player for the future”.