Newcastle United are yet to complete their first senior addition of the January transfer window but are reportedly not far away from dipping into the market.

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the Magpies are closing in on the signing of Everton forward Anthony Gordon on a permanent deal to bolster their ranks.

The Italian reporter tweeted:

"Newcastle have reached an agreement to sign Anthony Gordon, here we go! Deal in place on £40m fee, Everton accepted the proposal. #NUFC Personal terms also agreed on long term deal."

It now remains to be seen whether or not the England under-21 international will be the final, and only, player to come through the gates at St. James' Park before Tuesday's deadline, as the club have been linked with players in the midfield area.

Earlier this month, the Daily Mail reported that the Magpies are interested in Wolverhampton Wanderers star Ruben Neves as they weigh up a swoop to sign a new midfielder.

The report claims that the club are monitoring the Portuguese international's situation at the Molineux as his contract is due to expire at the end of next season.

If the central midfielder opts against putting pen to paper on a fresh deal with Wolves then that could force their hand in the summer, to avoid losing him for nothing in 2024, if Newcastle decide against a swoop this month and are willing to wait.

Irrespective of whether Dan Ashworth and Eddie Howe snap the gem up now or in five months, Neves could form an exceptional partnership with current Toon star Bruno Guimaraes in the middle of the park.

 

The above statistics show that the Brazil international has been delivering consistently brilliant performances for Howe's side in the top-flight this season.

This comes after the maestro averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.25 in 17 appearances in the division, scoring five goals and assisting one, in the second half of last term after joining from Lyon in January 2022.

His statistics since arriving on Tyneside show that the gem is a combative box-to-box midfielder and Neves could be the dream partner for him as the Wolves star is cut from the same cloth.

In the Premier League this season, the Portuguese wizard, who was once hailed as a "beast" from set-pieces by ex-USA international Jimmy Conrad, has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.22 across 19 appearances.

The £50k-per-week magician has chipped in with four goals from midfield whilst also making 4.0 tackles and interceptions per match, which comes after he gem struck four times and averaged 3.3 tackles and interceptions per outing in the 2021/22 campaign - averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.11.

Neves and Guimaraes are both box-to-box talents who have proven they can perform to a high level week-in-week-out in the Premier League by making key contributions at both ends of the pitch, which suggests that they could form an exceptional partnership for the Toon.

Both of them are 25 and have plenty of time left ahead of themselves to develop further. Now, imagine both players running the midfield for Newcastle for many years to come...