An update has emerged on Newcastle United's interest in Chelsea and England playmaker Ross Barkley...

What's the talk?

According to The Northern Echo, discussions are underway between Eddie Howe and the club's recruitment chief Steve Nickson over potential January signings.

The report claims that the Chelsea attacking midfielder is one of the names being discussed, along with Harry Winks, Jesse Lingard and James Tarkowski.

Get it done

PIF must ensure that they can get a deal over the line for Barkley, as the England international could improve their chances of avoiding relegation this season.

The £100k-per-week beast has 230 career appearances in the Premier League and knows what it takes to perform at this level, playing for Everton, Aston Villa and Chelsea in the top flight. He has racked up 28 goals and 31 assists in that time, showing that he is capable of delivering in the final third with contributions in front of goal.

Outside of Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin, no Newcastle player has more than one Premier League goal this term, which suggests that the squad could be bolstered by a goalscoring midfielder in January. Barkley has 11 goals and 11 assists in 94 games for Chelsea and could be the player to come in and provide a spark in the final third.

Indeed, his former Everton manager Roberto Martinez once compared him to ex-Premier League icons Michael Ballack and Paul Gascoigne. The Spaniard said: "I've never seen a young English player with his sort of mentality.

"I can see some (Michael) Ballack in him and some Gazza (Paul Gascoigne). It's fine for us to make comparisons but he is Ross Barkley. He has great balance, is good with both feet and is developing an incredible awareness.

"You can compare him against any of the best young Brazilians, Dutch or even Spanish."

This provides an insight into the type of player Barkley is, with his ability to create something out of nothing shown in his statistics for Chelsea. He is capable of popping up with a goal or assist from the middle of the park and that talent could help the Magpies to win games in the second half of the season in their fight against the drop.

Therefore, Howe and PIF must launch an official swoop for the 27-year-old and attempt to bring him to St James' Park in the winter window.

AND in other news, PIF must seal dream NUFC move for “exceptional” 114-goal magician who Howe would love...