Newcastle United fans are hoping the new year brings a positive change in form at St James’ Park.
While the Premier League giants bowed out of 2025 with a 3-1 victory over Scott Parker’s relegation-doomed Burnley, the end of the year was far from perfect for Eddie Howe’s men, with a 1-0 defeat in the Tyne-Wear Derby in December still stinging, alongside a disappointing loss by the same score to Manchester United on Boxing Day also hitting morale.
Howe has already noted that January will be “season-defining” for his troops as the fixture schedule continues to be overloaded with tough matches.
He will of course want the Saudi PIF to also enter the chaotic transfer market, to help his team get off to a positive start to 2026, with many measures reportedly in the pipeline…
Newcastle prepare approach for Ligue 1 star
The window has only been open for a few days, but the St James’ Park rumor mill has thrown out a wide variety of rumours.
Indeed, Kees Smit continues to be linked with a move from AZ Alkmaar to Tyneside – as Real Madrid even begin to show interest in the Dutch midfielder – with Manchester City youngster Oscar Bobb also said to be on Howe and Co.’s radar as they aim to bring in reinforcements all over the pitch.
Newcastle are also considering arrivals in defense, with Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope revealing an approach is expected this month from the Premier League strugglers, involving a move for Toulouse left-back Dayann Methalie.
Hope says the 19-year-old is highly regarded by the people of Tyneside, with his comfortable approach on the ball and ability to play as a left centre-back when necessary making him a very attractive deal to try and get over the line.
With cover in defensive areas also perhaps needed, with Lewis Hall’s troubling injury record on the left, this could be a very smart move to progress further, as Methalie could become another Malick Thiaw-style masterstroke for PIF this month.
Why Méthalie can be Thiaw 2.0
Thiaw would enter the building this summer as AC Milan’s intriguing pick-up, having collected an encouraging seven clean sheets last season from 19 Serie A starts.
The feeling in the air would have been one of expecting the German to take time to acclimatise to his new surroundings, but he has transformed effortlessly into a Premier League warrior, with 19-goal threat Erling Haaland even feeling his wrath this season, when the number 12 bravely ended one of the Nordic striker’s darts in November when Newcastle won 2-1.
Averaging 4.9 duels won per league game, as well as recording a 90% passing accuracy, Thiaw appears to have been playing at the peak of his powers in the Premier League for some time, up from just half a season, with the 6ft 4in titan even being hailed as ‘the future of the club’ by Toon captain Bruno Guimaraes.
At just 24 years old, Thiaw aspires to become a mainstay of the Magpies’ defense in the near future, with Méthalie possibly joining the Dusseldorf-born defender, another purchase with the future firmly in mind, given the Frenchman will only turn 20 himself in February.
|
Méthalie’s stats in Ligue 1 (25/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics – every 90 minutes* |
Méthalie |
|
Games played |
16 |
|
The games have started |
14 |
|
Goals scored |
0 |
|
Aids |
0 |
|
Keys* |
36.4 |
|
Precise passes* |
12.7 (77%) |
|
Big chances created |
1 |
|
Tackles* |
2.1 |
|
Ball recoveries* |
3.5 |
|
Total duels won* |
4.1 |
|
Statistics by Sofascore |
|
Much like Thiaw, however, the Toulouse talent plays with a maturity beyond his years in Ligue 1, as evidenced by his average of 4.1 duels won per top-flight game this season, in what is his first breakout campaign in the senior setup.
With also two goals to his credit with the French U21 team, it is clear that the number 24 of the Violets has a bright future in football, with journalist Alfred Frank going so far as to describe Méthalie as a “complete player”, while qualifying him as “one of the best left-backs in Ligue 1”.
This possible move truly has all the ingredients to be another sensational capture from Thiaw, with Newcastle never looking back after betting on the promising 24-year-old to succeed on English shores.
With European giants such as Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus previously reported to be keen, the Toon may well have to fend off fierce competition to land Méthalie’s services, as the January transfer window drama is in full swing.
Not just Gordon: Howe must remove Newcastle star who ‘doesn’t look interested’
Eddie Howe must now consider sacking this Newcastle United pillar, who is regressing like Anthony Gordon.
