Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce believes he needs three players in January to give the squad the extra quality and depth needed to maintain their challenge for a top-10 finish.

But his hopes of bringing in so many players will largely depend on whether anyone matches the £15million asking price for striker Dwight Gayle and he does not believe that is a deal any Championship club can afford.

Newcastle are keen on Liverpool’s Adam Lallana, who will be out of contract in the summer, but know there will be plenty of offers put to the England international and he is likely to wait until the end of the season to decide on his future.

In the short term, Bruce’s main priority is to sign another central midfielder, although Newcastle have also drawn up a shortlist of attacking players. Genk striker Mbwana Samatta has been discussed, as has Burnley winger Dwight McNeil.

Newcastle had looked into the possibility of signing England international Danny Drinkwater on loan, as well as Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka, but both deals now seem unlikely, highlighting how difficult it is to do business in the winter window.