Newcastle United reportedly has no plans to send Aladji Bamba out on loan in January, despite recent suggestions that a temporary move could help the £30 million summer signing find regular senior minutes.

The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope reported that Bamba is expected to remain on Tyneside through the winter window after playing only 27 minutes since arriving from Monaco.

“One player who almost certainly won’t come in for a start is Aladji Bamba, although we are told he will NOT be going out on loan in January,” Hope wrote.

The update directly contrasts with The Athletic’s Chris Waugh, who wrote that Newcastle should consider a January loan if Bamba continues struggling to earn opportunities under Matthias Jaissle.

“If Bamba cannot get any game time in the Carabao Cup, then it would make sense for him to get minutes out on loan,” Waugh wrote.

Bamba has not appeared since Sept. 19 and has made only 12 senior starts across his career. Jaissle has also acknowledged that the 20-year-old has found the physical adjustment to Premier League football more difficult than initially expected.

Hope nevertheless reported that Newcastle intends to keep Bamba around rather than seek a temporary move.

“I understand the plan is for Bamba to remain on Tyneside and there has been encouragement with his recent performances in training,” Hope wrote.

That suggests Newcastle currently favors allowing Bamba to continue developing within Jaissle’s squad, even if that’s just on the training ground, rather than prioritizing giving him competitive minutes elsewhere.

Would keeping Bamba at Newcastle be the right call, or would a January loan offer him a better path to regular football? Share your thoughts in the comments.