Even with a takeover bid looming over St James’ Park, Newcastle must invest heavily in their strike force in January if they are to move themselves away from the relegation zone.

Rafa Benitez’s side have won just five of their 20 Premier League games thus far, picking up just four points from the last 30 available.

And much of that comes down to their poor summer recruitment. Under Rafa Benitez, Newcastle have made a net profit in the transfer market but still failed to adequately invest in the squad, with just £5m being spent on strikers, that being the acquisition of Joselu from Stoke.

The Spaniard, who had barely featured in the Premier League for the Potters, has bagged just three league goals so far this season, with fellow strikers Dwight Gayle and Aleksandr Mitrovic adding just four more goals between them.

That return is simply not good enough at this level and Benitez knows this.

Whether it’s Mike Ashley or Amanda Staveley, investment from the top is needed in order to preserve Newcastle’s Premier League status with those also in the relegation scrap starting to find form.

West Ham’s Javier Hernandez and Swansea’s on-loan Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham were both top targets for Newcastle in the summer but they failed to get those deals over the line which has left them short-handed, but a potential takeover will play a huge part in financing January recruits.

With Newcastle desperate for additional firepower, they have been heavily linked with several strikers in the January transfer window and we break down the odds on them happening.

The bookmakers have made Liverpool’s Danny Ings the most likely forward to sign for the Toon Army, with odds as short as 3/1 with Sky Bet for the deal to go through this month.

Ings impressed with Burnley several seasons ago, prompting Liverpool to sign him following their relegation to the Championship but season-ending knee injuries in the last two seasons have halted his progress at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp inherited Ings and clearly doesn’t fancy him and Newcastle are believed to be the likely destination for the striker, and we are up to putting our money on thagt! If you are too and like us are looking for most gain with minimum risk you should use these free bets without deposit that are available from different bookies online. This way you can back the transfer to go ahead.

While Ings projects to be another low cost, low reward type target, Newcastle must start to aim higher. This is a club with a huge history and an expectant fanbase, half measures simply won’t cut it any more.

Ings isn’t the only out-of-favour Liverpool striker wanted by Newcastle as Benitez targets a move for Daniel Sturridge also to bolster his options.

Having fallen behind the likes of Roberto Firmino and Dominic Solanke in the pecking order at Anfield, it’s widely speculated that Sturridge will leave Liverpool to improve his chances of making Eng;and’s 2018 World Cup squad, and Newcastle are 6/1 to secure his signature.

Former fan favourite Andy Carroll is once again being tipped for a return to the north east, seven years after he left Newcastle to complete a £35m move to Liverpool.

Things didn’t work out for Carroll at Anfield and injuries have plagued his five-year tenure at West Ham who are growing increasingly frustrated with the England international’s failure to be available on a regular basis.

Still revered by some in the area, Carroll dream return could well happen in January, with odds currently sitting at 12/1 for it to happen.

Finally, a former Benitez favourite is also wanted on Tyneside as the Magpies consider a swoop for Fernando Torres.

Benitez brought the Spaniard to English football with Liverpool where he enjoyed many great years. An indifferent spell at Chelsea followed but Torres finally returned to Atletico Madrid where he has played second-fiddle to Antoine Griezmann.

Atletico have welcomed back Diego Costa from Chelsea this week which has pushed Torres further down the ranks at the club and a January transfer is said to be likely, with Newcastle 6/1 to sign him.