ALAN PARDEW is looking at the loan market, Steve Bruce thinks he might be better off waiting until the summer, while Tony Mowbray would probably change everything apart from the backroom team.

January could be a busy month in the North-East, it could also be very boring. That's the problem: Nobody actually knows.

All three of the North-East's leading clubs would prefer to make adjustments to their playing squad during the January transfer window.

But with little money, or in Boro's case none, available to make additions, there is no guarantees that the start to 2011 will herald any new signings at all.

Newcastle are close to committing £5m on Hatem Ben Arfa, who has been on loan at St James' Park since August anyway, meaning Pardew is looking at options on loan.

In reality, though, he could do with persuading owner Mike Ashley to add more new players to Newcastle's squad if they want to avoid a fight to stay in the Premier League.

The Magpies squad is decent and includes a number of very good players, namely Andy Carroll, Joey Barton and Cheik Tiote. To ensure top-flight status is retained, Pardew could do with adding a couple more to that list to improve Newcastle's chances.

It is a strange window on Tyneside. Under Chris Hughton there was an expectation and an understanding that Newcastle would not be spending, Pardew has made it quite clear he will try to persuade Ashley otherwise.

There are plenty worse teams in the Premier League than Newcastle, but adding reinforcements - particularly in attack and at left-back, where they have been linked with Wayne Bridge - will go a long way to keeping Newcastle among the elite.

Sunderland need additions for different reasons. Steve Bruce has only used 20 spaces of his 25-man squad allowed, providing the men he has out on loan stay away from the Stadium of Light.

The rest is made of young talents who have progressed through the Academy system, like Adam Reed and Adams Blair.

But after an impressive start to a second season under Steve Bruce, the Black Cats know a push for Europe is in their sights.

Bruce maintains that finishing in the top ten is the target, but given the way this Premier League season has developed, there is room for a club like Sunderland to break the norm.

With everyone fit in the Sunderland squad, a Europa Cup place come May is a strong possibility. Having been hit by injuries and suspensions last season, Bruce knows he could do with guarding against that.

He has targets in mind for the summer, like Stewart Downing or Charles N'Zogbia, but he would be better off trying to push through deals for his prime targets now.

Downing, one of the steadiest and most consistent left-wingers in the Premier League, would be well suited to the way Sunderland play.

Sunderland, who sit sixth, have a chance of success by their recent standards, an extra one or two players in January could be just the ticket needed to play in Europe.

If only Middlesbrough had that option. The days of qualifying for the UEFA Cup, reaching the final in Eindhoven in 2007, must seem a million miles away to Boro fans.

Instead this is another year of massive change on Teesside. Gordon Strachan might have carried out his major reconstruction in 2010, but Mowbray could do with starting the new year in similar fashion.

The difference, of course, is that Strachan has spent any money Mowbray would have been given by chairman Steve Gibson.

That is why the Boro boss must offload the likes of Kris Boyd and sell David Wheater, Gary O'Neil, just to be given a fighting chance of adding some of his own players.

Mowbray has identified targets for the day he can look to push through deals, when that day arrives is another matter entirely.

There has been progress made under his management on the pitch, but there is a sense he will never be satisfied with his lot until he has altered the face of the squad.

January could be a big month in the North-East, if managers end it by sticking rather than twisting then there is likely to be a lot of 'what ifs' flying around come May.