This season’s transfer window is among the most important in Newcastle United’s history. Despite being relegated the club remains odds on to come back up from the Championship at the first attempt, but a lot hinges on the business that gets done over the next few weeks.
Rafa Benitez has been very open in stating that we don’t need to sell any players in order to bring in new ones. Regardless, some of the first team squad will inevitably make way this summer – following his team selections as we slid towards relegation it’s fairly obvious who does and doesn’t feature in his plans.
Given the eight extra games that the team will take part in next season the need for boosting areas of the squad is fairly apparent. So who could we call on with experience of playing in the Championship? Here are five potential transfer candidates who could do a job.
Will Hughes, central midfielder, Derby County
The Derby central midfielder has recently come back from a cruciate ligament injury sustained on the first day of the season and, although only 21, had featured regularly for three full seasons before the 2015/16 campaign. He made his debut for England’s U21 team when only 17 and definitely has the potential to develop further – so his next move will be crucial. Hughes signing for Newcastle will very much be dependent on how many midfielders leave though, as it’s an area in which the club are pretty strong right now. He’s also been linked with moves to Premier League clubs already, and may fancy taking the direct route. Very technically gifted with a good eye for a pass, he could be an attractive proposition to add the creativity that has been lacking in the middle of the park.
Click ‘2’ below to view the next player that the Magpies could sign in the summer.
Sholas Ghost – thanks for the article mate. Apologise if you have done stuff on the site before but you’re a new name on me so welcome mate 😉
There are some very decent players in the Championship – Judge & Hanley being 2 I’ve mentioned for us before and I don’t think those 2 would carry particularly big fees.
I agree with Hughes as well but reckon Derby would want big money for him & would be reluctant to sell to a rival.
McCormacks record speaks for itself, but £15m (being suggested) is too much IMO & at 29 we aren’t investing in the future.
Lescott I wouldn’t touch with a barge pole though mate.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Hey guys,
Introducing Shola’s Ghost he’s a newbie and will be contributing to the site from now on.
Everyone say hi!
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
Andy – sorry mate I skipped your intro there, but nice to see a newbie & good article.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I still think Leigh Griffiths could be a good shout up front.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy – Griffiths is very like that other striker Celtic had (Hooper) that went to Norwich and flopped.
I’d put my money on Armstrong above most names mentioned.
I think there will probably be a flurry of signings very soon and I’ve said before they’ll be with the PL in mind. Possibly Spanish or Italians although Rafa favours S. Americans. The wages in most countries are so low they’d all jump at a move to SJP and that’s what will count in recruitment – money. Championship players are there because they’re not very good.
Welcome Shola’s Ghost – hope you’ve got a better first touch mate!
Georgio(Quote)
Georgio – I wouldn’t be looking for him to block Armstrongs chances. He’d be coming in in place of the likes of Cisse, Riviere, Gouffran, Doumbia.
I would want to develop the likes of Mitrovic, Perez, Armstrong and Toney – I just think Griffiths is a natural finisher and that’s what we are missing at the moment.
Hooper cost Norwich around £4m, so if Griffiths cost around the same I don’t think that’s daft money for a 25yr old with a scoring rate like his.
Hooper got 13 goals in 29 games for Sheff Wed last season in the Championship. I reckon I’d pay £4m for that level of contribution.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Good article, got to say don’t know a lot about most of these players, but depth of squad is a big thing this season, no harm n trying
Simon(Quote)
Welcome Shola can you change your name
I see Shelvey doesn’t seem to be in Rafa plans if storeys are right,well he didn’t play him in the last six games did he
Would welcome some young fresh players but wouldn’t like it if it stops are own young players coming through
Icedog(Quote)
Shelvey’s a funny one. Has a great pass on him but is a bit slow and ungainly making him easy to put off his game. Rafa doesn’t seem to fancy him much either. Does seem a bit strange though to sell a player you just bought 6 months earlier. Don’t believe the so called Palace link.
Georgio(Quote)
Good article and welcome.
Players in the Championship will not be cheap. Just look at last season. Rhodes was £10m and McCormack was £12m! Can only see it going higher now the riches are so much more if you get promoted.
Stuart79(Quote)
STUART your right clubs are not daft they know there’s a lot of money floating about and will want to cream as much as they can some will want 8/10 mil for a average player it’s not going to be easy for Rafa as some think to get the right players at the right price
Icedog(Quote)
I see Rob Lee has said what a lot of fans think get Siko out of the club he said he’s not as good as he thinks and after what he showed last season there isn’t a CL club going to try and sign him
Icedog(Quote)
Thanks for the kind words everyone, good to read your thoughts on who you think we should sign.
Agree with a lot of them that I don’t want to see people coming in who will take game time away from the likes of Armstrong, Perez, and Mitro (not forgetting there’s still Cisse, Gouffran, Riviere, and Toney too). Plus a winger may hamper getting Aarons on the pitch, if injuries don’t get in the way first! Don’t think anyone would argue that the defence has to come first.
Regardless of Rafa’s comments about not needing to sell it’s pretty clear that we do: we just can’t sustain the number of players on the wages they’re on. Shelvey on £80k? If we get lose money on him but save the wages we could probably get someone like Hughes for half that amount, especially as Jonjo doesn’t seem to be in Rafa’s plans.
It’s going to be interesting, that’s for sure. Think we’ll see more upheaval than we think!
Shola’s Ghost(Quote)
I’m a big fan of Shelvey & was buzzing when we signed him. He’s an excellent passer of the ball & can unlock teams that are set up defensively.
But I have to say that I’ve been disappointed with his workrate since he joined us. I was never expecting him to tear it up like Kante or anything like that. But I think he was dropped because he wasn’t doing enough.
He needs to up his game & he needs to improve his tackling ability coz we can’t afford to carry players.
I hope he does coz he offers a different kind of threat.
Sharpy17(Quote)
SHOLA the Shelvey one is strange one, Rafa actually bought him when he was at L/Pool so he must have rated him then,maybe he hasn’t progressed the way Rafa hoped he would
Icedog(Quote)
Shola – I think Mitrovic & Perez are ready for first team footy in Championship. I think Armstrong could well be based on his efforts in league 1 last season – but I’m not sure about Toney & it may be worth sending him on loan again.
I would get rid of Cisse, Riviere & Gouffran.
I would like to see us try & get 2 players for each position. We have Townsend on the right & we have Aarons on the left – but based on the last 2 seasons Aarons struggles badly with injuries.
Alan Judge would be a player to sign as cover/competition for those wing places & someone like Hal Robson-Kanu is available on a free this summer & also has good experience in that league.
I’d have no problem putting Aarons in ahead of either of those players, but equal I think if we needed to bring them in for injuries of suspensions then I reckon they’d do a job.
I think in getting 2 for each position, we clearly need 2 new CBs – to replace Saylor & Colo. That’s where I want to see good money spend.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ice – I think you have hit the nail on the head there mate. I don’t think he’s progressed the way Rafa hoped. But the fact he bought him at Lpool might mean Shelvey gets a second chance or a bit more time with us. But it will be up to Shelvey to up his game, coz I don’t see Rafa suffering fools.
Sharpy17(Quote)
SHARPY your right Rafa does not suffer fools no matter how good or bad they are,didn’t he catch a few when he first came some said they were injured then all of a sudden when he signed they were no longer injured,he will have noted that for sure
Icedog(Quote)
Good read, As long as we give Arma a chance I’m happy.
How we feeling then lads, Very nervous, this is gonna be more tough than we’d hoped I reckon.
C’mon England.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Sharpy: There are 46 games plus cups and I would be very worried about putting Aarons in for more than about half. I think we need someone of similar ability to compliment him. They would both get enough games. Maybe more of a grafter, a Milner type, so Rafa would have an option depending on who we play. I don’t think we have that sort of player in the current squad.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
bloody hell Sterling ****
Kimtoon(Quote)
might turn the sound down, Savage does my head in
Kimtoon(Quote)
If carry was playing instead of Sterling we’d be 1 up by now.
Sterling is defo the weak link
Gashley(Quote)
Vardy *
Gashley(Quote)
Don’t know what he has to do to get a game mate. That was a shocking miss and he’s loss possession a few times too, cannot see the point in Sterling being there, Roy got it wrong.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Just because Rafa bought shelvey doesn’t mean anything really. Managers can make mistakes. I can see us selling him if we can afford to make a big loss
Gashley(Quote)
Poor Harry, poor, put Vardy on second half
Kimtoon(Quote)
Same as Saturday lots of possession no end product
Kimtoon(Quote)
shut up Savage
Kimtoon(Quote)
I think he’s there to add a bit of wing play? Only wingers we have are our wingbacks rose and walker. Townsend would of been the better option imo
Gashley(Quote)
Gashley, agree
Kimtoon(Quote)
Shut up Savage that’s a pen
Kimtoon(Quote)
someone gag Savage please
Kimtoon(Quote)
Once again Rooney temper gets the better of him and Bale takes advantage of a gift of a free kick.
Right on half time too 😡 Watch them sit back now
Kimtoon(Quote)
**** off Savage, poor keeping too
Kimtoon(Quote)
Poor save from a good free kick
Gashley(Quote)
Savage is spoiling the crack what a **** he is,how his Mrs puts up with him I don’t know maybe it’s the money
HART you should have saved that
Icedog(Quote)
And now it’s shooting down here, fitting with the damp squib that are England up front
Kimtoon(Quote)
I hate this wingback system. Makes our build up play really slow.
Gashley(Quote)
Ice, Vardy HAS to come on second half Kane is beyond poor
Kimtoon(Quote)
First half summary.
Sterling should of scored. Looked poor on the ball
Stupid free kick to give away
Poor save from hart
We need more penetration. Get vardy on…or we’re heading home
Gashley(Quote)
It’s not fair. If you support NUFC then you should get a decent national side to support!!!.
Sterling is dog **** – got to get either Vardy or Sturridge on now for me.
I would 100% take Robson-Kanu on a free by the way.
Sharpy17(Quote)
England are like watching Toon, frustrating beyond belief.
Bale has done nowt all game then scores that 🙄
Kimtoon(Quote)
Sharpy, I like Ashley Williams too.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Still think that was a pen as well.
Kimtoon(Quote)
In the cold light of day we’re losing but Wales have been rank, we’ve not taken chances and should have had a pen but why did Hodgson take 5 strikers then play one up front? Surely Townsend would have been ideal to replace Sterling?
Personally I would move to a diamond now. Bring Wiltshire and Sturridge on for Lallana and Sterling. Play Alli behind the strikers and Rooney and Sterling in midfield. Give the Wales back 3 something to think about. Keep Vardy back for the last 25 mins.
Stuart79(Quote)
Sterling was a weird choice anyway. He was injured or on the bench for Man City for most of the 2nd half of the season. He looks short of confidence and is not taking his man on which is why he is in the bloody team.
It is only 1 goal though so there is still a chance.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think we need Strurridge for Sterling at least.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Vardy on, good, lets see what he can do now.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Right lets take it to them now
Kimtoon(Quote)
blimey our back line is so poor, they look nervous as kittens
Kimtoon(Quote)
Wow I knew England were not going to do very well this tournament but Crikey could finish bottom of the group at this rate! Is England actually any good in area of the pitch?
Shamrock(Quote)
Sham, we have been woeful, no point in possession if you can’t finish.
Kimtoon(Quote)
better than Russia better than Wales on the pitch but nowt to show for it. Now Wales have the whole team back defending, this game must be lost.
Kimtoon(Quote)
2 **** balls by dier now.
We’re looking much better tho
Gashley(Quote)
Right make this corner count
Kimtoon(Quote)
Vardyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Kimtoon(Quote)
Come onnnnnnnn
Gashley(Quote)
Should of started
Kimtoon(Quote)
Now then, can we build on that?
Kimtoon(Quote)
I think everyone but woy knows that
Gashley(Quote)
Come on England we can win this now
Gashley(Quote)
we look better
Kimtoon(Quote)
That was a peach of a ball from Rooney
Kimtoon(Quote)
Right try and defend this
Kimtoon(Quote)
how did the ref miss Williams piggy backing then!
Kimtoon(Quote)
Rashford coming on
Kimtoon(Quote)
The last 10 mins will fly by. We better score soon
Gashley(Quote)
C’mon England
Kimtoon(Quote)
Woy looks worried
Kimtoon(Quote)
So many **** balls
Gashley(Quote)
Getinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Kimtoon(Quote)
Fucking get innnnnn
Gashley(Quote)
Phew
Kimtoon(Quote)
Woys happy
Kimtoon(Quote)