According to reports in The Telegraph, Stoke City are ready to offload a number of players during the January transfer window, including midfielder Charlie Adam.

The former Liverpool mant has found first-team minutes hard to come with the Potters this season – playing just two minutes – and Mark Hughes is understood to be ready to cut another senior player from his squad, with Glen Johnson and Stephen Ireland also potentially on their way out.

The Telegraph says that the 31-year-old Scot, who is valued at £3.15m by transfermarkt.com, is thought to be on more than £40,000 per week, and he would likely have to take a pay cut should he join another club in the New Year.

Meanwhile, one point from the last 15 available in the Premier League have plunged Newcastle United towards the relegation zone following a decent start to the campaign, and Rafa Benitez will already be identifying players he could bring to St James' Park when the window re-opens.

With Adam keen on the prospect of a transfer, the Magpies may be completing a shrewd move if they completed a deal for the midfielder.

Here are three reasons Newcastle should sign the unwanted Adam in January…

Experience

When you're on a poor run like Newcastle currently find themselves on, sometimes you need a couple of experienced heads in the team to try and keep the spirits of the younger players up and to help them out of a rut.

The Magpies don't have too many players in their squad that have played regularly – or even at all – in the Premier League before this season, and adding someone like Adam to the squad and the dressing room for the second-half of the campaign could prove to be a huge help, even if he doesn't start every game.

Quality on the ball

One of the reasons that Adam earned a move to Liverpool earlier in his career is because of the quality he has on the ball, as we have seen when he has taken free-kicks and corners – and scoring from around the halfway line or even in his own half  – throughout his career.

The 31-year-old has that ability to unlock defences with his passing range, and even though his accuracy in possession in 24 Premier League appearances for Stoke last term was just 69%, that was probably down to the fact that more than 72% of those were forward or long balls, according to Squawka.

The Scot is able to stay calm in possession too though, the quality he brings from set-pieces could be the difference between picking up no points or one, or even one point or three.

He loves a battle

As well as being decent on the ball, Adam also has those battling qualities as well and that is a characteristic that every manager will want in a potential new signing.

The 31-year-old showed his defensive qualities in 24 top flight appearances last term and according to Squawka, he made 23 interceptions, 23 clearances and six blocks, while he also won 30 of the 46 aerial duels he contested to show that he isn't afraid to put his body on the line.

The Scot has a good mentality and plenty of mettle, and he could be an important addition to the Newcastle midfield in the New Year.

Do you agree, Magpies fans? Let us know below.