Newcastle to smash transfer record in January amid injury crisis that's ruining their season

Newcastle United are ready to sign Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande as an injury crisis at the back threatens to derail their season.

The Magpies sit seventh in the Premier League and have the most injuries in the division.

At the back, Eddie Howe is missing full-backs Matt Targett, Javier Manquillo and Dan Burn, plus centre-back Sven Botman.

Fabian Schar also went down in Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth and is reportedly playing through injury.

Per The Sun, Newcastle are ready to dip into the transfer market and pay Diomande's £70 million release clause.

The 19-year-old is regarded as one of the best teenage prospects in the world and has played every game for Sporting this season.

Diomande's been scouted at least three times by Newcastle this season. He made his international debut for the Ivory Coast earlier this year.

Despite only joining Sporting earlier this year, Diomande already has his eye on a move to English football.

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In the summer, he was linked with a move to Arsenal. It's believed the Gunners had a £30 million bid rejected.

Manchester United have also shown an interest. They're currently plagued with an injury crisis of their own and are without Lisandro Martinez and Jonny Evans.

Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag is interested in signing a central defender in the winter and Diomande could be an option.

Howe addressed Newcastle's injury crisis at the Vitality Stadium.

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He said: "The break has come at a very good time. It doesn't mean we will have a flood of players back but hopefully one or two.

"Bruno [Guimaraes] was a huge miss. We'll get him back. But a lot are longer-term and we have to accept that.

"I think we've been unlucky some bizarre injuries. Jacob Murphy's shoulder, Dan Burn landing on his back. There's nothing we can do about that. It's a unique situation."

At full-time, Kieran Trippier was filmed exchanging words with supporters. The England international stressed there was 'no need to panic' and understood the emotion.