Newcastle United have money to spend in January - but sporting director Ross Wilson says any mid-season moves will have to "align" with the club's summer plan.
Though January is traditionally a difficult window in which to do business, head coach Eddie Howe said earlier this week he would, ideally, "love to keep the squad fresh", stressing the "need to be prepared for all eventualities".
Howe and Wilson have not discussed incomings just yet, but the pair have talked at length about the current side and the club's recruitment team have been busy scouting potential targets for 2026 as a whole.
"It's fairly obvious to everybody given the level of club spend in the summer that we're not going to do that again in the winter window as well, for a variety of reasons," Wilson said after Newcastle spent £100m-plus net in the previous window. "But, if we want to spend, we can.
"Of course we will be creative, of course we will be opportunistic as well. But probably the most important thing is that it would have to align with what the summer plan looks like, which is the bigger squad plan.
"All of those conversations are ongoing. We will have the ones about where Eddie sees the need in the squad, if at all."
Wilson spent his first few days in the post analysing the contracts of Newcastle's current players after joining the club from Nottingham Forest back in October.
The Scot discovered Sandro Tonali's situation was "significantly better than the one he was expecting" after the midfielder previously agreed an extension during his betting ban, which means his deal could now run until 2030 if the club trigger an option, as expected.
But defender Tino Livramento - who is halfway through the five-year deal he signed after joining the club from Southampton in 2023 - has admirers elsewhere, while Sven Botman is approaching the final 18 months of his current contract.
"It's no secret at all that we would want to extend Tino's contract and we would want to extend Sven Botman's contract too," Wilson added. "Those discussions are ongoing.
"Some discussions are more difficult than others, but the desire would be to keep those players. Will they agree those contracts? At the moment, I think it's too early to say."
Chief executive David Hopkinson wants the Magpies "in the debate about being the top club in the world" by 2030, after carrying out an in-depth review since his arrival in September.
Howe said Hopkinson and Wilson are "two brilliant additions" for the club.
He added: "David has come in with a real energy and presence and ambition. I think that's great for the long-term future of this football club. Someone to really take the club forward.
"Two people that really care about Newcastle and are fitting in really, really well. Great news for everyone that they are here."