Newcastle United’s January plans are beginning to take shape. Mark Douglas reports.

NEWCASTLE United expect a double defensive boost by the end of January – with a new centre-half expected to join and Fabricio Coloccini to have signed a new long-term deal.

However, in news which may frustrate United supporters, the club are considering whether to delay a striker signing until the summer after Modibo Maiga’s move from Sochaux broke down due to a failed medical.

Newcastle assembled a hit-list of four strikers over the autumn, with Maiga featuring alongside Continental targets Pape Cisse, Moussa Sow and Luuk de Jong in their potential roll call of targets.

Concerns over Maiga’s fitness – combined with the good form of Demba Ba and their other strikers – appears to have lessened the urgency in the St James’ Park boardroom to bring in the long-mooted replacement for Andy Carroll.

It is too early to categorically rule out a new striking recruit in the New Year, last year’s frantic dealings in the final days of the transfer window illustrating that even the best-laid plans can be disrupted by events.

United, though, are clearly now prioritising a centre-half in their January shopping.

Part of the logic behind that is that other targets will eat up more of the budget than Maiga, who was commanding relatively modest wages.

United will spend, though – and Pardew was in Holland checking out targets over the weekend.

FC Twente’s giant defender Douglas has been mentioned, although interest in England under-21 defender James Tomkins is not over.

United are also growing increasingly confident on Coloccini’s future.

In the most bullish statement of intent from someone inside St James’ Park yet, Pardew says he expects his skipper’s situation to have been “resolved” by the end of January.

Black and white pessimists might read that as a sign he may be sold, but The Journal understands with no bids, no inquiries and a cordial relationship still in place between board and player, a new five-year contract is the most likely conclusion by the time February comes.

Pardew said: “We have not been told no (he doesn't want to sign it),” Pardew said.