Newcastle United planning January move for Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe?

The Magpies spent around £120m over the summer to strengthen Eddie Howe's squad with three permanent additions.

Sandro Tonali arrived from Italian giants AC Milan, while Tino Livramento and Harvey Barnes joined from Southampton and Leicester City respectively.

Newcastle also recruited left-back Lewis Hall from Chelsea on a season-long loan deal with an obligation to buy at the end of the season.

Despite splashing out on their summer signings, the Magpies are already starting to draw up plans for the winter window.

Directors Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi are reportedly set to meet with chairman Yasir al-Rummayan and head coach Eddie Howe to discuss Newcastle's transfer strategy for January.

According to the Northern Echo, the Magpies have already identified Smith Rowe as a potential transfer target.

With three years left to run on the player's contract, Arsenal would supposedly entertain offers in the region of £50m.

Newcastle are unlikely to pay such a high fee for the 23-year-old due to their ongoing concerns about Financial Fair Play.

However, the report claims that they are interested in pursuing an initial loan deal with a view to converting the move into a permanent transfer in the future.

Smith Rowe is understood to be considering a January departure due to his lack of playing time at the Emirates Stadium.

After seeing the first half of the 2022-23 season disrupted by injury, Smith Rowe returned to action in January, but he could not force his way into Mikel Arteta's side.

The attacking midfielder ended the campaign without making a single start, and his struggles have continued in the opening two months of this season.

Smith Rowe has featured in just six matches this season, with his only start coming against Brentford in the third round of the EFL Cup.