Clubs in the Saudi Pro League are now reportedly contacting Newcastle United about a January deal to sign one of Eddie Howe’s main men.

Eddie Howe warns Newcastle about “improved” Man United

Boxing Day represents the perfect chance for Newcastle and Howe to get their season back on track ahead of the new year. The Magpies again showed plenty of signs of quality against Chelsea, before an all-too familiar collapse saw them fall to a 2-2 draw despite initially holding a 2-0 lead.

They will be desperate to avoid a repeat this evening when they travel to face Manchester United at Old Trafford and Howe has already warned his side about the Red Devils’ recent improvement.

“Our record has been good against Manchester United in recent games, but that counts for nothing in this game.

“It will be another independent game and as I say, they’ve improved, they’ve been really strong in the games – even the game at Aston Villa, where they didn’t win in their last match, I thought they were really strong and produced a good performance.”

Victory could take Newcastle above Man United and into seventh before anyone else plays in the Premier League this weekend. Defeat, meanwhile, could see them drop to as low as 15th by the end of the weekend.

It would expose just where they’ve found themselves so far this season and highlight just how much work PIF must do in the January transfer window.

Already, reports are suggesting that they could spring into action in an attempt to sign Jarrod Bowen and Nicolas Jackson in 2026. The duo would end Newcastle’s unfinished business from the summer and finally complete their new-look frontline.

But it’s not just incomings that those in Tyneside have to worry about. According to TeamTalk, Saudi clubs have now made contact about signing Joelinton next month and Newcatle ‘would consider a permanent deal for the player despite Howe having made it clear’ he wants to keep him.

Saudi clubs make contact over Joelinton

The Brazilian has struggled to repeat his performances of last season in the current campaign thanks to several factors. Newcastle’s own form hasn’t helped, of course, and his own injury problems have handed him a stop-start few months at St James’ Park.

As a result, for the first time since his midfield switch, questions are arriving about Joelinton’s future. Whilst Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes continue to keep hold of their place in Howe’s midfield, it is Joelinton who could drop out if Newcastle welcome an added reinforcement.

That’s when the door could swing open for the Saudi Pro League. PIF could deal Newcastle an unexpected blow by luring the midfielder to another one of their clubs next month, with the report revealing they made ‘inroads’ over a deal in the summer and will move again in the winter window.

At Newcastle, Joelinton reportedly earns as much as £150,000-a-week, but history tells us that salary would likely be doubled or perhaps even tripled in the Saudi Pro League.

Several stars have struggled to resist the temptations of Saudi riches. Whether Joelinton becomes the latest to follow suit remains to be seen, however. Even amid his inconsistent form, he remains one of Howe’s mainstays.