Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has had a number of weeks off thanks to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and has had additional time off to potentially discuss a plan for the January transfer window with Dan Ashworth.

The pair are set to work alongside each other next month to bolster the squad with new recruits, if the club decides to improve the team, whilst also allowing those who need to depart to find new teams.

Howe's side are currently sitting third in the Premier League table and are competing for a place in Europe next season, as it stands, but there is still room for improvement within the roster.

One player who has struggled this season and could be on the chopping block heading into January is winger Jacob Murphy. The Englishman has failed to deliver consistently impressive performances in the top-flight and has been unable to prove that he deserves a regular place in the team.

He has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.63 across 15 appearances in the division, providing one goal and one assist, whilst losing 75% of his individual duels and completing 67% of his attempted passes.

This comes after he averaged a score of 6.68 across 33 outings last term and shows that he has not been putting in good displays in the Premier League.

Howe could now finally ditch the £35k-per-week dud, who has been at St. James' Park since 2017, by dipping into the market to sign Leandro Trossard from Brighton.

The Magpies are reportedly interested in signing the Belgian international, whose defensive work was once hailed as "outstanding" by Andy Naylor, and his arrival would allow the club to sell Murphy as he would be a major upgrade on the former Norwich forward.

Trossard has racked up seven goals and two assists in 14 top-flight appearances this season, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.17 for the Seagulls.

The 27-year-old attacked, who was once dubbed a "wizard" by journalist Charlie Haffenden, produced eight goals and three assists in 34 appearances in the division last term and averaged a score of 7.10, whilst completing 78% of his attempted passes.

These statistics show that the Belgian winger would be a significant upgrade on Murphy for Newcastle, as his contributions in the final third and his average performance levels have been far more impressive over the last 18 months.

Therefore, Howe and Ashworth must now swoop to sign Trossard during the upcoming January window as it would free up the English forward to find a new club, whether that be on a permanent basis or out on loan.