It has been a summer of frustration so far for Newcastle as we as usual seem be stalling on investing or backing Benitez. As always, silly season is in full swing with us linked to an endless list of potential signings, with the likes of Mario Gotze even comically mentioned.
Sifting through the links, here are some I think are the most realistic considering our budget and the areas we really need to strengthen in.
Danny Ings
Either loan or permanent transfers could be done here as he has been frozen out by Liverpool, which no disgrace considering the attacking trio they have. Wants game time, will be up for the challenge and desperate to get career back on track and Rafa likes players with something to prove. Benitez also of course still has good connections at Liverpool and Newcastle could be the ideal destination for Ings to get his career back on track and he would certainly be an upgrade to our current options.
Kenedy (loan)
Permanent seems unlikely but I think a season long return to Tyneside will still suit all parties. We get to keep a brilliant player who was instrumental in keeping us up, Kenedy finally gets a full season of game time which he needs at just 22 and Chelsea get to see an asset increase in value ready for next summer. He is linked to top clubs across Europe but they will want to see him push on before they spend big on him, so a loan move would make sense. It would also allow us to spend transfer cash elsewhere, like strikers.
Valon Berisha
This week it is being reported the talented number 10 might be heading to Lazio, however there’s surely a deal to be done here. He’s admitted our interest, we’ve scouted him at Salzburg for 18 months (scored 13 and got 11 assists last season) and he said a move to PL would be a ‘dream’. We’ll have to make a move to sign him pretty quickly if we want him, but with him costing just £7m and looking like the ideal sort of number 10 we need to add competition for Perez, I could see that happening.
Badou Ndiaye
The Chronicle have confirmed that Rafa watched him and liked him before his January move to Stoke. They’ve been relegated and he now wants to continue his career at the top level after impressing in his short stay in the Premier League. We’ll probably be able to get him a little cheaper, or a deal that allows us to get him and them get Gayle could be seen as a sweetener. We’ll need Merino replacement and we could probably sign him with the £10m or so we’ll get for the Spaniard. Would also take the gamble away from relying on Mo Diame replicating his form of the back end of the back end of the season.
That’d probably come to around £30-£35m and would really bolster our ranks, adding firepower, retaining Kenedy and reinforcing the midfield. With the likely sales of Mitrovic, Mbemba among others, the likes of Skrtel may also arrive and more depth and quality in the full back areas.
What would you think of these potential transfers?
