Whilst today is a positive one for NUFC, with Kenedy’s return bringing a smile back to the face of Rafa Benitez, there’s been one major move in the Premier League which will come as a real reality check.
Newly promoted Fulham have completed a stunning club record deal (worth £35m) to sign Jean Michael Seri – the highly-rated midfielder who had been heavily linked with the likes of Barcelona, Man Utd and Arsenal after several stunning seasons in France.
I prefer to focus on ourselves, but these things are hard to ignore when Fulham are paying over DOUBLE our current transfer-record (£17 for Michael Owen in 2005) to sign such a player on their first season back in the Premier League. It’s a sign of the times.
Our Premier League rivals are spending big whilst we are in danger of standing still, with Mike Ashley continuing to make life in the transfer market so difficult for Rafa Benitez.
Our transfer business has actually been pretty solid so far, but we have spent just £4m so far – signing Kenedy on loan and Ki on a free since completing a simple £4m deal to turn Dubravka’s loan into a permanent.
The big test will come now Benitez pushes to sign a new striker – a major deal that will make or break our summer.
?
Jean-Michael Seri…
– May: Linked with Barcelona, Man Utd and Chelsea.
– July 2018: Signs for newly promoted side Fulham for £35m
What. A. Coup!
(? @TonyKhan)#FFC pic.twitter.com/nNVbgaI52z
— TheSportsman Transfers (@TSMTransfers) July 12, 2018
I’m happy with our business so far, with Dubravka, Ki and Kenedy all being shrewd signings, but moves like this really put the pressure on us to get moving in the market.
We still need a striker (or two) and a number 10, but neither will come cheap – and that worries me as an NUFC fan in the Ashley era.
You’d think our transfer record will need to be broken at least once or twice if we’re going to bring in the quality striker we so desperately need to compete in this day and age. Will Ashley sanction that? History suggests no – but he needs to.
This tweet sums it up for me:
Fulham spending double our transfer-record on their first signing after promotion is a sad indictment of how Rafa must run through hoops and shop for bargains just to try and compete with these clubs.
— NUFC 360 (@NUFC360) July 12, 2018
Fulham got TWO Players For £35 Million not ONE Player
Paul Daglish(Quote)
I get where you’re coming from with this post, I really do but I’m not worried. Yes, it’s sad to see a team like Fulham smash our record transfer fee, but it’s for an untested Premier league player. At least we know the players we have signed are quality and have been better, smarter business all round.
JGib95(Quote)
die ashley u horrid creton **** u aswell we know our club is a joke and ashley spunks all our profits on prostitutes and roullette lets face it wouldnt be able to get his leg unless newcastle didnt pay 130 mill profit every season
lickmy ball sack ashley(Quote)
yes i heard he spunks away newcastle united dreams every day
john(Quote)
would cost that fat mess 130 mill just for a blowie
lick my ball sack ashley(Quote)