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Newcastle United have an 18-month plan to completely reshape their squad in order to regularly compete for a top-eight finish in the Premier League and to challenge for domestic trophies.

The first phase of that transfer blueprint was put into operation over the summer, when five players arrived for an outlay of more than £50million.

However planning has already started for the January window when the Magpies will continue their preferred strategy of signing players who are coming towards the end of their contract.

But which players around Europe are due to enter the final six months of their contract come January? And which of those are likely to feature in Newcastle’s boardroom recruitment discussions?

Here are 20 players whose contracts expire next summer, with a verdict on the likelihood of NUFC making a January move (all information is courtesy of extensive website transfermarkt.co.uk):

Joel Matip (centre-back, Schalke 04)

Value in January: £6million-£8million

The Magpies looked at him during the summer but were sceptical about whether or not Matip would move to a side without European football.

However, that stance could change come January - or particularly next summer - and he is exactly the sort of centre-back they need. Still only 24, he also fits NUFC’s age profile for recruitment.

Nicolas N’Koulou (centre-back, Marseille)

Value in January: £5million-£8million

Another player who Newcastle have tracked for a long time, N’Koulou survived the mass firesale at Marseille this summer but he could leave either in January or on a free next summer.

Cameroon’s captain and a centre-back who is also a good footballer, N’Koulou could fit into the Steve McClaren mould for a defender - and would be a long-term successor for Fabricio Coloccini.

Caner Erkin (left-back, Fenerbahce)

Value in January: £2million

A talented defender with 38 Turkey caps to his name, Erkin could be brought in as a resolution to the seemingly problem left-back position.

Having played for CSKA Moscow, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, Erkin would bring plenty of experience to the Newcastle defence, even if he will be 27 by the time the January window opens.

Gregory van der Wiel (right-back, Paris Saint-Germain)

Value in January: £8million-£12million

Okay so this one is highly unlikely with the likes of Manchester United sniffing around his signature - but Van der Wiel has still yet to sign a new deal at the Parc des Princes.

What’s more, Newcastle already have Van der Wiel’s Netherlands teammate Daryl Janmaat at right-back, so a first-choice right-sided defender is not a priority.

Jon Flanagan (full-back, Liverpool)

Value in January: £5million

Someone who could well interest Newcastle is Flanagan, because he ticks all the boxes.

He’s young (only 22), English and versatile (he can play in either full-back position). Flanagan has struggled with injuries in recent years and has yet to sign a new Liverpool deal, so the Magpies could look to pounce in order to give them another option at full-back.

Roman Neustadter (defensive-midfielder, Schalke 04)

Value in January: £3million

A position which Newcastle still need to strengthen, particularly if Cheick Tiote fails to rediscover his form and fitness, is defensive-midfield.

With Graham Carr keeping a keen eye on the Bundesliga, two-cap Germany international Neustadter could be an outside option for the Magpies, even if he is 27.

Marco Hoger (defensive-midfielder/right-back, Schalke 04)

Value in January: £5million

Versatility again comes to the fore as far as Hoger is concerned, with the 25-year-old able to operate as a defensive-midfielder or as a right-back.

Out of these two Schalke midfielders, Hoger is the more likely to prick Newcastle’s interest in January.

Havard Nordtveit (defensive-midfielder, Borussia Monchengladbach)

Value in January: £6million

His Monchengladbach teammaate Granit Xhaka may be the one who is really interesting Newcastle, but Nordveit could represent a cheaper and more viable option.

The 25-year-old powerful defensive-midfielder is a mainstay of the Norwegian national side and could be an excellent addition.

Marco Benassi (midfielder, Torino)

Value in January: £2million

The 20-year-old started his career at Inter Milan before moving to Torino last summer and he has found a whole host of admirers around Europe since.

An athletic midfielder with 11 Italy Under-21 caps under his belt, Benassi could be seen as a potential recruit for Newcastle’s development squad.

Tonny Vilhena (midfielder, Feyenoord)

Value in January: £2.5million

It does not need mentioning to Graham Carr that the Feyenoord academy produced Georginio Wijnaldum - and Vilhena is the latest talent to emerge from the Eredivisie club’s youth ranks.

A 20-year-old midfielder, Vilhena is a Dutch Under-21 international and has been a regular in the Feyenoord first team for three years now. Another potential development addition, although Vilhena’s talent means he would be pushing for a first-team place upon arrival on Tyneside.

Romain Habran (midfielder, Paris Saint-Germain)

Value in January: £500,000

France still remains a fixture on Carr’s scouting radar, and PSG youngster Habran is someone he has looked at in the past.

Currently on loan at Ligue 2 side Stade Lavallois, Habran’s average season at Sochaux in 2014-15 means PSG could let him leave in January. Habran would certainly be a development player for NUFC, as the 21-year-old is not ready for the Premier League.

Sofiane Feghouli (right-winger, Valencia)

Value in January: £5million

A 25-year-old winger with World Cup experience, Algerian international Feghouli is yet to sign a new deal with Valencia.

Wing is not a priority area for NUFC after Florian Thauvin’s acquisition, so Feghouli is unlikely to emerge as a target.

Andrija Zivkovic (right-winger, Partizan Belgrade)

Value in January: £200,000

Although wide men are not a priority for the first team, additions to the development squad are top of the agenda for January.

Zivkovic is a 19-year-old winger who has already been capped three times alongside Aleksandar Mitrovic in the Serbia side. However, a work permit could make this deal a tricky one so Newcastle may steer clear.

Andre Carrillo (right-winger, Sporting Lisbon)

Value in January: £6million-£8million

A winger who can also play as a forward, Carrillo has impressed at Sporting Lisbon over the past few seasons and is still just 24 years of age.

His versatility is a plus, but Carrillo would not be anywhere close to the top of Newcastle’s agenda in January.

Cheick Diabate (forward, Bordeaux)

Value in January: £5million

At 27 he might be right at the top end of the potential recruitment age range for Newcastle, but Diabate is someone they have looked at for a number of seasons.

The 31-cap Mali international has a decent goal-scoring ratio - roughly one every 2.5 games - and, at 6ft 4in, he is a big physical player who could be a back-up for Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Joel Campbell (forward, Arsenal)

Value in January: £3million-£6million

Campbell could finally get his chance at Arsenal due to Danny Welbeck’s injury, but the 23-year-old has yet to convince at club level despite an impressive 2014 World Cup for Costa Rica.

A striker who can also play out wide, Campbell failed to really impress on loan at Olympiacos or Villarreal and is unlikely to be on the Newcastle radar.

Andriy Yarmolenko (forward, Dynamo Kiev)

Value in January: £12million-£18million

It would take a significant offer from Newcastle to pip the likes of Everton to the Dynamo Kiev forward, but Yarmolenko has an excellent record at both club and international level.

The 50-cap Ukraine striker has scored close to a goal every other game for Dynamo and he is wanted by a host of European clubs. Newcastle are unlikely to get into a bidding war so will probably stay out of this one.

Aleksandr Kokorin (forward, Dinamo Moscow)

Value in January: £5million-£8million

He’s still just 24 yet Russian international forward Kokorin seems to have been around for an age.

A striker who has found his goal-scoring touch in recent seasons, Kokorin is not someone Newcastle have really taken much of an interest in.

Felipe Caicedo (forward, Espanyol)

Value in January: £3million-£5million

It was somewhat of a surprise that Caicedo did not move during the summer because the Ecuador international has many admirers across Europe.

At 27, Newcastle are unlikely to look at him as a back-up striker, however.

Charlie Austin (forward, Queens Park Rangers)

Value in January: £10million-£15million

Newcastle were linked with Austin all summer but they deemed QPR’s £15million valuation too high for a player who has failed a medical in the past and whose contract has less than 12 months to run.

They could still make a move in January, but only if the price is right - and it seems QPR’s valuation may remain too high for the Magpies.

Selected players with contracts expiring in summer 2017:

Centre-Backs: Robin Knoche (Wolfsburg), Mexer (Rennes)

Full-Backs: Jetro Willems (PSV Eindhoven), Mattia de Sciglio (AC Milan), Sead Kolasinac (Schalke 04)

Midfielders: Victor Wanyama (Southampton), Maximilian Arnold (Wolfsburg), Oleg Shatov (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Dennis Praet (Anderlecht), Nampalys Mendy (Nice)

Wingers: Toto Salvio (Benfica), Yannick Bolasie (Crystal Palace), Ladislav Krejci (Sparta Prague)

Forwards: Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion)