NEWCASTLE UNITED have added Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks to their list of potential January transfer targets.

The Magpies’ head of recruitment, Steve Nickson, chaired a face-to-face meeting with the club’s leading scouts at St James’ Park on Tuesday evening as preparations for next month’s transfer window intensified.

Nickson has held a number of discussions with head coach Eddie Howe, with the pair in agreement that Newcastle’s position in the Premier League relegation zone means it would be best to target players with extensive experience of the English top-flight.

James Tarkowski, Jesse Lingard and Ross Barkley have all been discussed, with Winks also now regarded as a viable option.

The England midfielder has been in and out of the Tottenham team since Antonio Conte took over at White Hart Lane, and there is a feeling that Spurs might be willing to do business next month in order to clear a space in their own squad.

Whether that would be a permanent transfer or a loan move remains to be seen, but Howe is keen to strengthen his central-midfield options and sees Winks as a potential upgrade on his current resources.

Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Willock have been playing alongside each other under Howe, with the Newcastle head coach seemingly unimpressed with Isaac Hayden, Sean Longstaff and Jeff Hendrick, who had been more regular starters under his predecessor, Steve Bruce.

As well as looking to recruit players next month, Howe will also be looking to move players on, with Dwight Gayle set to be made available for a loan into the Championship, with a view to a permanent transfer next summer.

West Brom and Nottingham Forest have both been linked with 32-year-old Gayle, who was surprisingly handed a new three-year deal with Newcastle in May but who has not made a single Premier League start under either Bruce or Howe this season.