Newcastle United are just one Premier League club linked with a move for Bryan Mbeumo this January window, though his transfer from Brentford won't be a simple one.

The Magpies find themselves on track to achieve European qualification at the midway point of the campaign. Any transfer business this month will determine whether that's the Champions League or one of UEFA's other competitions.

With Miguel Almiron set for a January departure, the need to strengthen the right-flank has come under the spotlight once again. Mbeumo, who was linked with the Magpies in the summer, has lead the way for Brentford this campaign and many others before.

With that said, Chronicle LIVE provides the latest news and rumours surrounding the supposed transfer target with the clock ticking away towards deadline day...

Thomas Frank response

With rumours building, Brentford boss Thomas Frank has sought to put an end to it all. As Mbeumo has 13 goals and three assists this season it is understandable why he would do all he can to not lose the player to a major top-flight rival.

So, at his Thursday press conference he was questioned whether there was any chance of a transfer happening this month. His response was: "No! It's very easy to answer - no chance!"

Not giving a clear fee any deal would have to involve, he added: "It would need to be that big of a fee that I can't imagine the size of the fee. I'm not focused on keeping my key players, I'm just expecting them to stay."

Scouting mission

Despite Frank's blanket statement of the fee that would be involved, Newcastle actually already have the information they require.

The club's chief scout, Steve Nickson, was on his latest scouting mission in attendance at Brentford vs Manchester City on Tuesday to get an up close look at the January target.

£50million is understood to be the asking price for the Cameroonian, even if that would not be accepted midway through the campaign.

Premier League rival interest

According to RMC Sports, there are a host of English top-flight clubs seeking to sign Mbeumo from the Bees - not just Newcastle.

In fact, they are missed out in this report entirely with Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur the three clubs listed as interested.

It is claimed none of the trio have made concrete movement yet to make the deal happen this month, yet they have supposedly 'gathered information' from Brentford before coming to their own decisions.

'Concrete approach' from Newcastle

Howe's side have been linked with a number of targets this month, but transfer expert Ben Jacobs claims the Magpies are the only club to have made a concrete offer for Mbeumo.

Speaking to the United Stand, Jacobs said: "Brentford don't want to sell, that's the first thing. Newcastle are the only club that have made any concrete approach - No bid but they're looking at Mbeumo over the summer."

Eddie Howe responds

With Almiron's return to Atlanta United progressing, Howe was asked on Friday if the club can afford to allow his departure and leave Jacob Murphy as the only right-wing cover for the remainder of the season.

"It's not ideal. I don't think it's ideal from anyone's viewpoint from our side," the manager conceded.

"We don't want to lose players but we know that there's a reality with PSR and the ongoing managing of that situation. So we've said many times over the last few weeks we'll make more decisions not based on football, but based on decisions that we potentially have to make for the future."