Two Newcastle targets unlikely to sign as £40m fee and wages cause problems - Report

The January transfer window is finally open, and so begins another tense month for us fans hoping for some big, game changing names to be brought in and turn our season around.

With the new sporting director Ross Wilson now firmly in place, and money to spend after the sales made this past summer, there’s really no excuse for any inactivity in the window.

According to a new report, however, two heavily-linked targets look to be off the cards in the January window at the very least…

Smit a non-starter this month?

According to The Mail’s Craig Hope, Newcastle United's hopes of landing Kees Smit from AZ Alkmaar are fading.

Smit, who has been a shining light in both the Eredivisie and Conference League this season, was originally expected to cost in the region of £20-30m.

But, according to Hope in his latest Newcastle Confidential Column, a figure north of £40m is the latest projected fee now a number of European giants have joined the race for his signature in 2026.

A January exit is now considered unlikely - AZ Alkmaar may be holding out for a bidding war this summer - and a fee in excess of £40m is beyond what Newcastle had planned to pay this window.

Hope states that Auxerre’s Kevin Danois, and another young Dutchman in Feyenoord’s Luciano Valente remains ones to watch, although Newcastle will remain in the mix for Smit this summer should a move to St James' Park be possible.

Toon moving on from Trafford

A new goalkeeper will be at the top of many fans’ wishlists in terms of January signings. And whilst there’s still the possibility we bring in a new, younger shot-stopper, that player won’t be James Trafford.

After multiple windows of trying to sign the England international, only to be pipped to his signature by Man City this past summer, the ship seems to have sailed and we won’t revisit a move for the want-away goalkeeper.

Hope reports that our goalkeeper search will now look elsewhere, with Trafford’s now-increased wages at Man City compared to what he was on at Burnley also cited as a factor behind our switch in focus.

Who knows, things could change this summer if we don't find a better alternative and Trafford's wage demands can fit into our structure, but it sounds like Newcastle are scouring Europe for other options with a summer move in mind.

For now, we can expect to see Nick Pope between the sticks for the remainder of 2025/26, with Aaron Ramsdale's hopes of landing a permanent move in doubt following a loan switch last summer.