Newcastle are ‘at league level’ in defense and ‘tied with Norwich’ this season as Jamie O’Hara sends warning over January transfer targets

Newcastle United have a huge mountain to climb to reach the top of English football, and are struggling to stay in the top flight this season.

That’s according to talkSPORT expert and former Premier League star Jamie O’Hara, who believes the Magpies’ ‘shocking’ stunt ruins the club’s ambitious transfer plans if they don’t improve dramatically on the ground.

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Newcastle co-owners Amanda Staveley and her husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi watched from the stands as Newcastle were well beaten by Chelsea

The mood at St James’ Park has been festive since the £ 305million buyout by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, but the party atmosphere has been somewhat dampened by the team’s continued struggles on the pitch .

Newcastle have yet to record a league win this season and sit second in the Premier League table with just four points.

New club president Yasir al-Rumayyan and co-owner Amanda Staveley decided to sack Steve Bruce after his 1,000th game as manager – a 3-2 loss to Tottenham – but results and performance did not improve under interim boss Graeme Jones. .

O’Hara was furious with the team’s performance in their last outing – a 3-0 home loss to Chelsea – and believes their dismal form could be disastrous for the club’s plans ahead of the January transfer window and with their search for a new manager still ongoing.

“Newcastle was shocking, like shocking – they didn’t offer anything,” O’Hara told talkSPORT Breakfast.

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Newcastle are too dependent on star striker Allan Saint-Maximin and need strengthening in January transfer window

“They defended for 90 minutes and every time they got the ball back they gave it to the midfielder.

“They had to defend again. The only thing they were literally trying to do was get the ball to [Allan] Saint-Maximin.

“Saint-Maximin tried to get around two or three players and try to cross for Callum Wilson.

“It was really so bad. They’re there with Norwich, how bad they are this season.

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Steve Bruce only lasted a few weeks after taking control of Newcastle, with the boss hurt for poor performances on the pitch

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“They are in serious trouble. If Newcastle think they are going to come out and be okay in January, they are wrong as they still have a long way to go.

“As a group collectively at the back, they’re miles away. As championship level.

As fans immediately discussed their dream signings after the long-awaited takeover, it seems the club’s short-term goal is to maintain their top status.

If they were to be relegated, it would be a blow to their project under new Saudi ownership.

Frank Lampard, Unai Emery, Roberto Martinez, Lucien Favre and Paulo Fonseca are all linked to succeed Bruce in the Newcastle dugout and be the man who will move the club forward.

But O’Hara has warned the team that they need to improve on the pitch to have any chance of attracting a better boss and better players.

« They have to do something, » added the ex-Tottenham man.

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Former Arsenal head coach Unai Emery has been heavily linked with the vacant Newcastle United post.

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Lampard is also a candidate for the Newcastle post

“They need a manager, but who are they for? Because this is the first phase. You have to do it right.

“The manager who’s coming in now has to be the guy who gets them out of a mess, but maybe not the guy who gets them in the Champions League.

“So you have to pick the right guy to get the most out of the group right now.

“And also to be able to attract players in January. It’s a really tough place they’re in.

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