In January, Newcastle were desperate for points and desperate for players to get them out of relegation trouble. The new owners didn't let Eddie Howe down and invested £93m on five new players. But which signing was the best? Here's my take on the famous five:
5. Chris Wood
Newcastle were desperate for a striker in January after losing Callum Wilson to a serious injury that was potentially going to see him be out for the season.
Desperate times call for desperate measures so the club decided to activate a £25m release clause in Chris Wood's contract, as it was guaranteed to be concluded quickly before the Watford home game.
The idea was it weakened Burnley also, but if I'm being honest, Wood only scored 3 goals for them so it wasn't like they were instantly doomed without him.
Wood only added two more goals to his overall tally on Tyneside, with one being a penalty, which is a very poor return even without the eye watering fee paid.
We won games with him, we needed him but of the 5 signings we brought in, he has to be last. Soz Woody lad.
4. Matt Targett
The quiet lad was a quiet transfer in all truth, or should I say loan signing, as we took him off the Aston Villa bench and into a first team playing in front of Wor Flags every other week. He won the lottery there.
Solid defensively, he was a very good signing so hats off to Eddie Howe and the scouting team for having faith in him. With Lewis and Dummett both injured, we really needed a left back to come in and hit the ground running.
Targett did that with aplomb with some top class blocks, hard tackles and little bits of class on the ball on top. His composure to pick out Willock in the last minute vs Leicester being a highlight to start off that magic Bruno winning goal.
It looks like we will not be making his loan move permanent, as we look to Renan Lodi to come in and I also think Matty wants to move down south closer to his family, with Fulham sniffing around for his signature.
Cheers for your hard work though lad, Bruno will definitely miss you.
3. Dan Burn
What can you say about Big Dan Burn that hasn't already been said? I can not believe how good he has been in a Black and White shirt. The boy has come home and my God he's made the most of it.
Born in Blyth, this 6ft7 goliath squeezed his massive frame into an East Stand seat with season ticket in hand back in the day, to watch Sir Bobby's team play in Champions League nights. He seems determined to bring those nights back by the looks of it.
Dominant in the air, composed with the ball at his feet, surprisingly quick, organiser, there is nothing Dan Burn can't do. Well, apart from score. For someone so good with defensive headers, his heading of the ball towards the opposition goal is shocking.
He is amazingly the most expensive centre back we've ever brought in at £13m, beating the record Coloccini held for many years and it was money well spent. That record may be beaten in the summer though...
The fact Big Dan is only third on this list just goes to show how unreal our January window was.
2. Bruno Guimarães
Bruno! Bruno! Bruno! The cry you have heard every week for the past three months. The cry you will hear for hopefully many years to come. WHAT A SIGNING.
Can you actually believe Bruno Guimarães plays for Newcastle? When we signed him I didn't want to get too excited just incase he turned into a bit of a disappointment. Like he wouldn't suit our team or settle in the area.
Pfft! Forget that. He's not only settled in but dominating Premier League games, sometimes with ease. The home game vs Arsenal was an exhibition. The fact they were supposedly after him is hilarious.
He came with a warning "do not expect goals, I don't score goals." Well he bagged five, two of which were winning goals. The other an equaliser and the other two were exclamation marks on a victory.
The flick at Southampton, the last minute header vs Leicester, the dink over poor Tim Krul, the slot vs Arsenal, so many memories in such little time.
We are all desperate now for him to carry on in the same vein next season. His partnership in midfield with Joelinton is a sight to be hold. Add another top class midfielder and we have one of the best midfields in the Premier League.
1. Kieran Trippier
It may surprise some that he's number one but his signing is more than just what he does on the pitch, which is absolute top class. His signing set the tone for the new era & he is the perfect character off the field.
I can't express how much I love this kid. His attitude is a dream and he was the first one through the door, opening up the possibility for top players to follow suit.
We may get Renan Lodi at left back in the summer and if we do, it will be largely thanks to signing his Atletico ex-teammate Tripps in January. You just know he'll help sell the project & club to him.
He has said playing in front of the Newcastle fans is the best experience he's ever had as a player. His enthusiasm and passion for the new era here is infectious.
He's a winner. He will not stand for a lack of standards in training. Then there's his talent. He may already be the best right back Newcastle has ever had in the PL.
His two free kicks to seal three points vs Everton and beat Aston Villa 1-0 were absolutely huge. Those victories kick started the ridiculous run we saw throughout 2022.
Cruelly he only played a handful of games, as he broke his foot but he has managed to make the last few games of the season and get into the England squad for the Nations League matches.
Bruno is unbelievable, Big Dan Burn is class but Trippier will always be the first signing of the new era and what a signing it was. The best £12m with add ons we will ever spend.
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