Newcastle United have been flying this season and currently look in good form to secure an immediate return back to the Premier League, with the Magpies currently sat top of the table - although they did endure a slip over recent weeks.

There is still plenty of work to be done in Rafael Benitez' project and whilst it's not as exciting as new signings, offloading players surplus to requirements is key to the Spaniard's vision at the club - as shown by the summer when he signed a wealth of new players but still ended the window with an overall profit.

With things looking good on Tyneside, there will be no panic buying in the New Year and that's great for Benitez' side, as they can work towards offloading some deadwood within their squad and signing young players for the future that will aid their competitiveness upon the club's return to the top-flight.

The priority in January should definitely be to offload some players within the squad who have been consistently overlooked this season and these TWO players should definitely be pushed out.

Cheick Tiote

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Veteran of the squad Cheick Tiote has not featured since the end of September and the 30-year-old is unlikely to play any more football on Tyneside.

The club unsuccessfully tried to offload the Ivorian in the summer and the situation is surely set to be revisited when the January window opens.

A dedicated servant to the club throughout the last six years, Newcastle should allow Tiote to choose his next destination and he's likely to elect for a bumper pay-day abroad if offers are forthcoming - and that could also work in Newcastle's favour when it comes to a sale.

Daryl Murphy (Loan)

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One of 13 players signed by Rafael Benitez in the summer, Daryl Murphy has struggled to make an impression on Tyneside and his first-team football has been severely affected as he battles with Dwight Gayle and Aleksander Mitrovic for a starting spot.

The 33-year-old was worth a punt but it hasn't worked out and Newcastle should cut their losses in the New Year, when a loan away from Tyneside is the most likely scenario for the former Ipswich Town forward.

Yet to make a league appearance for Newcastle, it's clear he needs to be offloaded.