Newcastle United Transfers: 5 Realistic Targets to Put Toon in Champions League

As we enter April, we're inching ever closer to that point in the Premier League season when the eyes of most mid-table clubs' supporters turn to the upcoming transfer window.

Of course, for Newcastle United, mid-table football is a thing of the past, as they are currently challenging for a Europa League place as they close out the season.

One thing that does seem just about out of reach for the Toon, though, is Champions League football, as they currently trail third-place Spurs and fourth-place Arsenal by five points and a lot of goal difference.

Rumours of players who could find themselves on Tyneside to bolster next season's run for a Champions League place have already begun spreading.

Here, I've listed five realistic targets who would definitely make Newcastle a Champions League-quality team if Alan Pardew brings them to St. James' Park.

Erik Pieters

PSV left-back Erik Pieters could be the first potential signing of the summer, as the Daily Mail is already linking him to the club.

The defender could fit nicely ahead of Davide Santon at left-back, allowing Jonas Gutierrez to return to his natural winger position.

As a Netherlands international already at 23 years of age, Pieters could make a major impact on Tyneside, but Newcastle will have to beat out another of other interested clubs to sign him.

Spurs and Liverpool are also said to be in the running for the defender, but considering the season Newcastle have had, they aren't too much more attractive an option for Pieters than Newcastle.

John Guidetti

Manchester City striker John Guidetti, currently on loan at Feyenoord, has already proven himself to be one of the better strikers in the Eredivisie.

With 17 goals in his first 16 games, Guidetti's scoring record is unbelievable, but considering that Man City already have Sergio Aguero and Mario Balotelli, he could be made available.

Of course, it would take an obscene amount of money to grab Manchester City's attention financially, so Guidetti might just have to be a loan option for the Geordies.

It would be a worthwhile loan investment, though, because despite the fact that Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse are already in place, that extra goal-scoring threat off the bench and the depth that Guidetti would provide could be lethal.

A strike force of Ba, Cisse and Guidetti could be as good as any you'll find in the EPL.

Guidetti has already spoken about a possible departure from Manchester, saying:

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“I want to play and if in Manchester they see me as the fourth or fifth choice, then I would rather go to a club where I can play.”

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Newcastle - and any other club interested in a striker, for that matter - should get bidding right now.

Douglas

The hottest transfer rumour of the week is that FC Twente defender Douglas Franco Teixeira is looking to move to the Premier League in the summer, and Newcastle United are a likely suitor.

Newcastle would join an array of other, likely bigger, clubs in the race for Douglas' signature, but that doesn't necessarily put them out of the running.

Douglas' likely worth is under £9 million, which is what the club paid for striker Papiss Cisse in January, and with a fair bit of Andy Carroll money left over, there's still the possibility that Newcastle could splash out again to drastically improve the defence this time.

And Douglas would definitely be an improvement over Mike Williamson—who currently mans the centre-back position—and even the injured Steven Taylor.

Standing at 6-foot-4, the defender could be a dominant imposing force in the Premier League, reminiscent of one-time Newcastle player Sol Campbell in his prime. This would be just the signing Newcastle are looking for to vault themselves into Europe's elite competition. 

Sebastian Bassong

Remember that face?

Of course you do.

That's former Newcastle centre-back Sebastian Bassong.

You may also remember how quick Bassong was to jump ship once Newcastle were relegated in 2009, but I'm sure all will be forgiven if he were to re-sign and regain the form that won him the Newcastle United Player of the Season award in that very year.

Presently, Bassong is on loan at Wolves and performing reasonably well, but his performances at Spurs have been far from the same level, as he finds himself behind a number of players for a starting position.

It has gotten to the point where Bassong has even expressed his frustration at White Hart Lane, and its shaping up to be one of those situations when a player realizes the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

Just ask Andy Carroll and Jose Enrique, who are looking very foolish this week for thinking that they'd be better off away from Newcastle.

Bassong could potentially beat out Steven Taylor for the starting centre-back role and, if not, he may even be versatile enough to play at left back.

At this point, a reuniting of these two parties would probably be beneficial for both, as Bassong would receive more playing time, and Newcastle would add some quality depth.   

Dimitar Berbatov

Everyone knows Dimitar Berbatov.

He's a proven goal-scorer, a skillful player and he should probably be on the radar of every team who has a vacancy up front. But what you may not know about Berbatov is that he's actually a Newcastle United fan, to the point where, as a child, he even slept in his black-and-white shirt. 

Berbatov's selection of the No. 9 shirt at Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United even comes down to the fact that he grew up watching Toon legend Alan Shearer. For that, he must surely be considering Tyneside as a potential destination when he leaves Manchester this summer.

Now, you may be wondering why on earth Newcastle would be interested in Berbatov when they already have a fantastic strike partnership in Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse, but you must remember that the former has turned a lot of heads this season - heads that are willing to pay big money to have him join their club.

If Ba does end up leaving, Berbatov would fit nicely up front with Cisse and Ben Arfa, and his class would only add to Newcastle's chances of making the Champions League next season.

In fact, even if Ba was retained, Berbatov could be used either off the bench or in a 4-3-3 with Cisse and Ba, with Ben Arfa moving back into midfield.

The one problem Newcastle face in signing Berbatov, though, is that he appears to only want to sign for a current Champions League club, having already turned down Fulham and Sunderland.

Still, there is the potential that Berbatov's obvious love for Newcastle, and the promise of Champions League football the season after next might be enough to persuade him to sign on.