Newcastle United were linked with a move for the Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek.
According to a report from the Telegraph, the Dutch international has now rejected a move to St James’s park because of their league position.
The 24-year-old midfielder is not keen on joining a club fighting relegation, and it will be interesting to see if the magpies can bring in a creative midfielder before the window closes.
Van de Beek has struggled for regular game time at Old Trafford, and a move to Newcastle could have been ideal for him for the remainder of the season. A loan move would have allowed the Dutch international to regain his confidence and sharpness with regular first-team football at Newcastle, and the decision to turn down the magpies do not seem like a wise one.
It will be interesting to see whether the former Ajax midfielder can secure a move away from Old Trafford before the January transfer window closes, or he will have to continue on the bench for the remainder of the season.
With the World Cup coming up later this year, van de Beek needs to play regularly in order to cement his place in the Holland starting lineup.
As for Newcastle, they have already signed the likes of Kieran Trippier, and Chris Wood from their Premier League rivals and the magpies are thought to be closing in on the signing of Diego Carlos from Sevilla as well.
Newcastle United have been quite vulnerable at the back this season, and if they can improve their defence significantly before the window closes, it could give them a great chance of beating the drop.
The magpies have one of the richest owners in world football after their takeover, and club hierarchy will surely harbour ambitions of dominating English football for years to come.
Although the situation is not ideal at Newcastle right now, a move to St James’s park could prove to be a smart decision in the long run for most players.