An update has emerged on Newcastle United's pursuit of Senegalese enforcer Idrissa Gueye...

What's the talk?

According to The Athletic, the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder has 'featured in conversations' regarding the January transfer window as Eddie Howe looks to bolster his squad.

The report claims that the midfield is an area where the Magpies are looking to strengthen, and he is among a number of options on their wish list.

Could be a PIF masterclass

PIF could land a masterclass in January by sealing a deal to sign Gueye, as he could be a "monster" - as dubbed by team-mate Presnel Kimpembe - for Eddie Howe.

The midfield destroyer could be a sensational signing for the Magpies as he is experienced and proven at the top level. He has averaged an excellent WhoScored rating of 7.09 in Ligue 1 for PSG this term, making 3.6 tackles and interceptions per game.

Gueye also has four full seasons of Premier League football under his belt from his time with Aston Villa and Everton. He averaged season ratings of 7.25, 7.23, 6.95 and 7.14 respectively before heading off to join PSG in 2019. This shows that he was able to perform to a high level on a consistent basis in England, suggesting that he would be able to slot straight into Newcastle's team and make an impact.

He has previously been called "perfect in every aspect of football" by his former manager Ronald Koeman, and the Magpies would be getting a player who excels at winning the ball back from the opposition. Over the course of his club career, he has averaged 5.4 tackles and interceptions per game, with Javier Manquillo's 3.3 the most that any Newcastle player he averaged this season.

This shows that Gueye could come in and be the midfield monster that Howe has been lacking. He could be the player who is able to consistently cut out opposition attacks and start moves for the Magpies, all whilst delivering high-level all-round performances, based on his statistics for Everton, Villa and PSG.

Therefore, PIF could pull off a masterclass by bringing him to the clubm as he could be a major addition to the squad who improves their chances of avoiding the drop. If he can come in and make a big difference defensively, as his numbers suggest he could, that could allow Newcastle to pick up more points in the second half of the campaign.

AND in other news, Talks underway: Newcastle could land dream deal with swoop for "very talented" £12.5m-rated gem...