Transfer window gathers pace

Closing in on Remy...Again!Having already welcomed Henri Saivet and Jon Jo Shelvey to the club this January, there are rumours that the business is not done yet - with Andros Townsend apparently on his way in a £12m deal. What else can we expect before the window slams shut?

Well it has tonight been confirmed that 24-year-old Shane Ferguson has been released and signed a n 18-month deal with Millwall, where be has featured over 25 times this season, scoring twice. A hard working player with a very good cross on him, his stamina is what seemed to let him down at the top level, which is a shame. On the bright side, our squad is carrying a lot of players that offer little to the squad - either in terms of ability, consistency or being injury prone - so it's good to see spaces beginning to be freed up in order to allow players to come in that can offer Newcastle United genuine depth of quality and tactical flexibility.

Marveaux, Gouffran, Obertan, Williamson, Cisse, Heidara, Taylor and a few others fit that catagory - and most of them can be expected to be moved on either in the remainder of this window or during the summer. What we can expect during the next week is for the tough tackling, talented but not often available Cheick Tiote to complete his £5m move to China, whilst French Flop Florian Thauvin should go back to Marseille on loan - hopefully with a compulsory buy back clause...

Fans are split on whether Townsend is value for the quoted £12m fee being paid for him by virtue of his lack of recent first team football and tendency to cut in and shoot at goal - usually missing the target. That said, he is a natural left footed winger with searing pace and something to prove - who has Premier League experience, so he should definitely add quality and threat to our play, especially if deployed from the left wing in his stronger foot as opposed to the right like he was at Spurs. See an example of what he could bring below;

http://youtu.be/3wEH6eQjkrQ

To round off this window and give ourselves a solid chance of survival, we need to sign a striker. With Pato said to have finalised his Chelsea move and Adebayor now a Crystal Palace player, our chances of re-signing Loic Remy have increased. He is proven in the Premiership and proven whilstcwearing our colours. He is keen to secure a move this January because he knows he won't make the France squad for the Euro's if he's not playing regularly. Fingers crossed for this one because signing Remy is a no-brainer if we want a goalscorer capable of making an immediate impact. Here's a reminder of what he could bring us;

http://youtu.be/ewHMS25GEHw

There has been talk of Lacazette , which as impressive as it would be - would still be a gamble as he has not played inbtbis league before. Meanwhile, the £25m being quoted for Berahino is far too steep. Whilst Mitrovic has stuttered somewhat in front of goal this season, Berahino's general stats this season are no better than Mitro's. With a heavy price tag and questionable attitude, I'm not sure he is the right man for us. But you never know...