According to some reports, Newcastle are already working hard on identifying and dealing in their January transfer targets, to get around any last minute rush that pushes prices out of their range and makes previously affordable players frustratingly unattainable. With the scouting net cast out already, and names like Paul-Georges Ntep and Sam Byram coming back, the suggestion is that focus will be on signing a centre-back option to cover Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa's departure and a striker to both bolster competition and cover Papiss Cisse's likely African Nations duties in January. But the funny thing about Newcastle and transfer windows is that despite assurances that only the right players to boost options will be bought, whenever a bargain presents itself, the club seem powerless to resist. And with the chances of Cheick Tiote and Sammy Ameobi also heading to Africa in January, and likely transfer attention for the Ivorian at least, the club should be doing all they can to identify cheap options. And since there's still a distinct Francophilia in the air on Tyneside, they could do a lot worse than consider the French-based players who are currently inside the last year of their contracts...
