Despite another day full of fanciful transfer links, the Chronicle have confirmed that Newcastle are STILL yet to bid for a single player this summer – with Lee Ryder admitting that the club are ‘not close to making a permanent signing’ as things stand.
It’s been reported recently that Rafa has been given a budget of around £40m (plus money from player sales), however the vast majority of the summer so far (aside from Dubravka’s arrival) has seen players linked with moves away, with little genuine activity with regards to incomings.
Elsewhere, there’s now signs that our Premier League rivals are picking up the pace and getting deals done. June is usually a slow month for transfers (and the market’s slowed even further by the World Cup), but potential rivals Wolves, West Ham and Huddersfield have all been making waves in the last few days – a sign that we need to get our skates on or risk being left behind yet again.
Wolves have signed Portugal’s number one stopper Rui Patricio. He may have arrived on a ‘free’ after cancelling his contract with Sporting, but there’ll have been big competition for his signature, and to sign a player of his pedigree is a real sign of their intentions (and spending power!).
Then to West Ham. Not only have they just announced the signing of highly rated French defender Issa Diop for a club record £22m fee, they look likely to break that record again with a £25m move for Lazio star Felipe Anderson.
They now have a top manager in Pellegrini, just as we do with Rafa, but there’s only one club between the two showing some sort of ambition. It may still go badly wrong at West Ham given the unpredictable nature of their owners, but Rafa could only dream of being given the license to spend this sort of money on these sort of players. Instead we’re yet to make a single bid for a player and the words ‘bargain basement’ are being used already.
Then finally, little old Huddersfield. I say ‘little old’ but they’re also threatening to leave us behind in the market the way they/we are going. They’ve recently confirmed the signing of Dutch international defender Terence Kongolo for an alleged £18m.
Like Kenedy, he arrived on loan in January and impressed, but they appear to have acted much quicker than us in a bid to get their man. Yes Kenedy is a difficult deal to do given interest from elsewhere and the uncertainty at Stamford Bridge, but do you think we’d have signed the Brazilian by now if we’d been told ‘he’s yours for £18m’ after the final day of the season? History suggests no.
We move too slowly, we’re reluctant to pay the going rates and we’re in serious danger of not only losing ground on our Premier League rivals, but Rafa himself.
Let’s hope things get better from here on in. There’s plenty time left to do business, but if reports are true that Rafa wanted ‘four or five’ in by the start of pre-season (less than two weeks time), then it looks like being another frustrating summer for Benitez.
If Ashley really is keen to see him commit to a new long-term contract, he’s got a funny way of showing it.
Nigeria gaining in confidence a bit since the goal
kimtoon(Quote)
This is the worst Argentina team I have ever seen.
So far the most impressive teams I’ve seen have been Mexico and England.
Stuart79(Quote)
Idiot
Shamrock(Quote)
First thing footy needs to do is ban players drom approaching the ref. Captains only – and when told to back off, they have to actually back off.
Shamrock(Quote)
There’s no consistency. But if we have a penalty a game it spoils it. I don’t care if it is technically the correct call it still will spoil football as we know it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Having said that they will go and score a last minute winner now and qualify.
Stuart79(Quote)
Oh dear
Shamrock(Quote)
balls
kimtoon(Quote)
Bloody hell im good 🙂
Stuart79(Quote)
sight of that fat bloated coke head celebrating makes it even worse 👿
kimtoon(Quote)
****… lucky bastards. Maradonna is so high on something. Gutted at that.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Sao Paoli walked straight down the tunnel. There is definitely a problem there.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
France v Argentina in last 16. Draw written all over it and penalties
Stuart79(Quote)
I know Maradonna was that off his nut he won’t even know what he’s done tonight – or that Argie won – but his celebration and giving the fingers to the Nigerian fans is just disgusting.
I don’t care how good a footballer he was, he’s a rotten human being. A disgrace of a man.
Sharpy17(Quote)
i agree mate
icedog(Quote)
spot on, no need for it.
kimtoon(Quote)
Back to NUFC and knowing that the gang got together today, I now expect to see some movement in the transfer market over the next 2 weeks – if there’s none then I’m fully on board with this incompetence opinion – and I will start to fear the worst for this window.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I wanna see action over the next couple of days not weeks sharpy. Time to move is now really before your rivals pinch the guy you are after from under your nose.
kimtoon(Quote)
plus we start back training on monday could do with them in
icedog(Quote)
one line too many
https://twitter.com/ClubesPortenos/status/1011712829265760257
just in
kimtoon(Quote)
The Sun Football Verified account @TheSunFootball · 14m14 minutes ago
More
MASSIVE fears for Diego Maradona’s health after he is helped from stands close to collapse http://thesun.uk/6018DmoTA
kimtoon(Quote)
luis carlos garcia @luis_c_garcia · 23m23 minutes ago
More
Hey @FIFAcom why dont you fine Argentina too? Maradona was shouting homophobic slurs to the Nigeria fans during the Arg/Nig game AND obscene hand gestures. #FairPlay if you’re gonna fine Mexico, do it to argentina too. Or does it not count because he is a cokehead? #godshand
kimtoon(Quote)
🙄 🙄
icedog(Quote)
https://twitter.com/slashfootball/status/1011707394773127171
kimtoon(Quote)
Jeez, Sharpy. I’d love to be married to someone like you! You’d believe everything I said, would take me back if I cheated twice a year and would give me one more chance every time. 😯
Stuart79(Quote)
Days would be good, but I expect weeks – they have 14 days to see some really movement.
As for Maradonna, i would never wish anyone dead – but I won’t feel sorry for anyone who puts there body through what he’s done to his. What will be will be.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Go **** your self Stu
Sharpy17(Quote)
NEW THREAD
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2018/06/26/the-future-nufc-star-who-could-be-set-to-break-into-benitezs-plans-this-season-one-to-watch/
A few pre pre-season thoughts on a player to watch this summer – Victor Fernandez.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Agreed
Shamrock(Quote)