NEWCASTLE UNITED have accepted they will almost certainly have to remove Jesse Lingard and Dele Alli from their list of January targets – with the duo both expected to remain at their current clubs until at least the end of the season.

Newcastle’s recruitment team have been working closely with head coach Eddie Howe ahead of the reopening of the transfer window at the start of January, with Newcastle’s position in the Premier League relegation zone underlining the need for early signings next month.

A list of potential Premier League loan signings has been prepared, but the Magpies have already had to adapt it because of the changing picture at a number of top-flight clubs.

At the start of this month, Lingard and Alli were both regarded as realistic signings given their lack of game time at Manchester United and Tottenham respectively and their contractual situation at their respective clubs.

However, there is now an acceptance within the Newcastle hierarchy that the situation relating to both players has changed, significantly reducing the likelihood of being able to pull off a January deal.

Lingard has been sending signals via his representatives that he wants to remain at Old Trafford until at least the end of the season, at which point his current contract is due to expire.

The England international has enjoyed working under new Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick, and has not given up hope of securing a new deal with his current employers. If he finds himself in a position where he has to leave Old Trafford next summer, his preference would be to try to secure a deal overseas. Lingard is known to have been keeping a close eye on the way in which Fikayo Tomori has successfully kick-started his career in Italy with AC Milan.

Newcastle had hoped the lure of a World Cup place next autumn would have persuaded Lingard to move Tyneside in January in order to increase his chances of playing regular first-team football ahead of the tournament in Qatar. However, with Rangnick having assured Lingard he remains part of his plans, the 29-year-old would prefer to try to force his way into the starting line-up at Old Trafford.

Alli has been on the periphery of things at Tottenham for a couple of seasons now, but the 25-year-old has been re-energised by his increased involvement under Antonio Conte in recent weeks.

The attacking midfielder made his first league start since September as Spurs took on Liverpool at the weekend, and impressed as Conte’s side claimed a 2-2 draw in North London.

Conte praised Alli’s “good performance” and suggested the former England international is ideally suited to the 3-5-2 formation he is currently fielding. While Spurs’ exit from the Europa Conference League will reduce the fixture demands on Conte’s squad in the second half of the season, the Italian is reportedly keen to give Alli a chance to compete with the rest of Spurs’ midfielders before making a final decision on his future. As a result, if Alli, who is contracted until 2024, is to leave Spurs, it is likely to be in the summer.

Both West Ham and Newcastle have been linked with a January move for the 25-year-old, with the Magpies understood to be keen on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent transfer at the end of the campaign.

However, as things stand, Howe and the rest of Newcastle’s recruitment operation are ready to move on to a Plan B as they look to increase their attacking-midfield options.