3. Right-back
With Mathieu Debuchy said to be on the verge of signing for Newcastle, this problem may already be solved, but we may well see incumbent right-back Danny Simpson leaving the North East for Reading very soon after the deal for the Frenchman goes through. While Debuchy will presumably take the right-back berth for his own immediately, he won't have a specific player to back him up for when he is either rested or has to be dropped for injuries or suspensions. That is exactly why Simpson played so many games last season, and though James Perch and Ryan Taylor can both play in either full-back position, the presence of a dedicated player is preferable to the use of a versatile option (especially when both players' strongest position is elsewhere on the pitch). Even with the acquisition of Debuchy, Newcastle need young cover at right-back, and with a depleted Reserve side and the youth team not ready to offer any stars to drop straight into the first team, that cover must come from an external source, even if Debuchy signs, because Simpson will not be at Newcastle for much longer even if he doesn't move this summer. The Magpies had been thought to be keen on Crystal Palace's Nathaniel Clyne, but he will be more attracted to the possibility of immediate top flight first-team football, rather than coming in as back-up, and Newcastle really need their scouting team to unearth a cheap, developable talent who can be nurtured as a back-up player, before later taking first team opportunities.