[ad_pod ]

According to The Chronicle, Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley will sanction funds for the club to bolster their squad during the January transfer window.

What’s the word?

Although the aforementioned report does not give a figure, Newcastle fans ought to be able to take some heart from the fact that investments are set to be made in improving the playing staff.

Rafa Benitez will certainly be grateful to have a transfer budget to use in the winter window, especially after his side’s tricky start to the season. The Magpies currently sit in 14th place with just nine points on the board.

The Playmaker FC squad decided to wind-up some unsuspecting Brazil fans at the Emirates on Saturday night. Watch the hilarious results in the video below...

If the Tyneside giants are to avoid a desperate survival scrap in the second half of the season then they must become more prolific in front of goal and better equipped to carve out goalscoring opportunities. 

Whatever funds Benitez has to spend in January, he must invest them in someone who can add creativity and goal threat in the final third. Therefore, the Magpies would be wise to launch a move for Borussia Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa.

Unfinished business

The 95-cap Japan international is well-loved amongst the Bundesliga outfit’s fans, however, he has been becoming increasingly less involved in the first team over the course of the past two seasons. 

At 29 years of age, Kagawa really ought to be playing week in, week out and after his mixed spell with Manchester United, he may well feel that he has unfinished business in the Premier League. 

Kagawa would add incision and top level experience to Newcastle’s attacking contingent, making him an ideal January target for the Magpies. He won’t come for loose change, but considering he has a Transfermarkt valuation of just £9.9 million and is becoming increasingly surplus to requirements in Dortmund, the attacking midfielder may well be within Benitez’s reach in January.

Of course, Ashley must first make good on his pledge to supply funds.

What do you think, Newcastle fans, would you be glad to welcome Kagawa to St James’ Park in January?