Newcastle United will assess their options this week ahead of the January transfer window with Eddie Howe making it clear he must hold on to his key stars if the club are to make the Champions League a reality again.

The reality is only an astronomical bid would tempt Newcastle to part with their big-name players but even then that argument has to be weighed against the potential riches of qualifying for the Champions League in 2025.

Howe will urge sporting director Paul Mitchell not to give in to any temptations to sell the likes of Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes in early 2025, knowing that he is arguably just one or two major signings away from his own Toon dream team. However, it looks like some outgoing business could open the door for a signing or two this month.

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Chronicle Live understands that Newcastle could be open for sales to three first-team players this month. As reported by Chronicle Live previously, Miguel Almiron will be allowed to head for the exit door with interest from MLS side Charlotte FC seeing negotiations active for the star.

Newcastle would also consider a cash bid for Sean Longstaff with Everton and Leeds believed to be interested and the club knowing they would recoup pure profit for the Academy graduate. Left-back Matt Targett is also thought to be available if a club can agree a deal with Newcastle.

Targett is picking up around £85,000 per week and still has two years left on his current deal meaning it could be hard to find the right buyer. But Howe is happy to have the ex-Southampton man around to add quality competition for places in 2025 if he can't find the right move.

Speaking in the direct aftermath of the victory over Man United, Howe said: "The first thing is to keep the players that we have [in the transfer window]. We have a good balance to the team and the squad and we don't want to lose anyone. We have people fighting for places and we don't want to disturb that."

Howe was clearly referring to the likes of Kieran Trippier, Martin Dubravka, Joe Willock, Longstaff and Harvey Barnes when mentioning competition for places. But he could face a test with his goalkeeper if a cash bid from Al-Shabab appears while Trippier's age bracket means any lucrative offers would be hard to turn down from the Newcastle board with PSR warnings rining in their ears.