Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe will no doubt be looking ahead to the upcoming January transfer window, with the mid-season market providing the Englishman with the chance to freshen up his squad again, both with regards to incomings and outgoings.

In terms of potential departures, the 44-year-old is set to oversee something of an exodus with Football Insider claiming that four first-team players will be up for grabs in the New Year, with one of those deemed to be surplus to requirements that of club captain, Jamaal Lascelles.

This follows a previous report from the same publication that suggested the Magpies would be hoping to recoup around £10m for the long-serving centre-back were he to depart, with the Englishman having joined the club from Nottingham Forest alongside Karl Darlow for a combined fee of around £7m back in 2014.

As pundit Alan Hutton suggested, the Tynesiders appear to have “moved on” from the 29-year-old in recent times, with the former City Ground star having made just six appearances in all competitions this season, including just a solitary Premier League start.

The addition of towering Dutchman, Sven Botman has seemingly served to shunt the skipper down the pecking order in the early months of the campaign, with the former Lille man already making a “huge difference” to the side, according to journalist Josh Bunting.

That has been laid bare by the fact that the northeast side have shipped just 11 league goals so far this term – the best record in the division – after previously shipping 62 goals last season with Lascelles playing a prominent role after making 26 top-flight appearances.

Howe could well strengthen his backline even further – and hasten the Derby-born dud’s exit – with the addition of Inter Milan sensation, Milan Skriniar, with the Slovakia international believed to be a firm target for the St James’ Park outfit.

The 27-year-old titan has caught the eye of a number of England’s top clubs as a result of his sparkling form in Italy of late, with the 6 foot 2 “leader” – as described by former coach Tibor Goljan – also offering the benefit of potentially being available for nothing at the end of the season, due to his expiring contract.

The 58-cap brute – who has racked up 236 appearances for the Serie A giants to date – has started 14 of his side’s 15 league games so far this term, notably averaging 1.4 tackles per game as a marker of his defensive prowess.

Lascelles, by contrast, only averages 0.3 tackles per game despite having featured far less frequently, while the former England U21 international is also less comfortable in possession as he ranks in just the bottom 2% in Europe for pass completion among those in his position, with Skriniar ranking in the top 4% for that same metric.

That difference in quality showcased just why the latter man could well be an all-round better fit for Howe’s side, with the “incredible” asset – as described by former teammate Adam Zilak – set to be a notable coup for PIF if a deal can be agreed.

As for Lascelles, it may well be in his best interests to push for an exit due to his limited involvement, with the player having become something of a spare part of late.