An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their plans to improve their attacking options during the January transfer window...

What's the talk?

According to French outlet Media Foot, the Magpies are preparing to swoop to sign Stade Rennes attacking midfielder Lovro Majer this month.

The report claims that the Ligue 1 side could be convinced to part ways with the gem due to the riches of the Newcastle owners, whilst it has previously been reported that he is valued at €60m (£53m).

It is also stated that Spanish giants Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are also eyeing up the Croatian international and could provide a challenge to the Toon Army in the coming weeks.

Martin Odegaard 2.0

There are only two teams ahead of Newcastle in the current Premier League table and one of them - Arsenal - is being led by Norweigan international Martin Odegaard, who has been in terrific form this season.

The former Real Madrid playmaker has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.54 across 16 top-flight appearances for the Gunners and chipped in with seven goals and five assists from midfield.

He has created an eye-catching 10 'big chances' and made 2.3 key passes per match in the division and these statistics illustrate the left-footed dynamo's excellence in the final third.

Majer could now come in as Eddie Howe's own version of the Gunners star. Last term, the gem produced six goals and eight assists, whilst creating 1.6 chances per outing, across 21 starts in Ligue 1. The gem has also created three 'big chances' and registered two assists in seven starts in the current campaign.

He ranks in the 96th and 94th percentiles for shot-creating actions and completed dribbles per 90 amongst his positional peers in Europe's top five leagues and European competition over the last 365 days, whilst Odegaard ranks in the 99th and 74th percentiles respectively in those statistics.

This indicates that both players excel at taking on players with the ball at their feet and are amongst the best attacking midfielders on the continent when it comes to providing their teammates with opportunities in front of goal.

Majer, who was once described as an "extraordinary" by sports agent Juanma Lopez, is also a young player with the potential to improve - at the age of 24 - and could come in as a long-term signing for Howe's side, whilst also being able to deliver in the immediate term.

His statistics show that he could have a similar impact to the one that Odegaard is having at Arsenal in terms of the creativity that he can provide in midfield as a left-footed attacker, which is why he could be a terrific addition to the Newcastle squad.