NUFC plan to make first summer signing as Charnley is handed 'two-man shortlist' - Report
According to the Shields Gazette, Steve Nickson - NUFC's 'head of recruitment' - has handed a 'two-man shortlist' to Lee Charnley as the club plan to replace Ayoze Perez.
The story shares no names, but claims the club are now planning to make moves in the transfer market - despite the fact there is still no new manager in place following Rafa Benitez's exit.
With it reported prior to Perez's £30m move to Leicester that there was £60m available to spend, the money should be there - yet a manager isn't, showing what a shambolic summer this has been at St James' Park.
Here's a snippet from Ross Gregory's new transfer piece in the Shields Gazette:
Newcastle United have TWO forwards on their wishlist as they look to replace Ayoze Perez.
United are pressing on with transfer plans despite having no manager in place, with head of recruitment Steve Nickson playing a prominent role alongside managing director Lee Charnley.
The Gazette understands that Nickson has compiled a shortlist of two options to replace Perez, with the recruitment team looking at forwards both on the continent and in England.
It goes without saying that the arrival of goalscoring and attacking spark is essential after Rondon and Perez's exits - two players who scored over 50% of our goals last season - but I have no idea how we plan to attract quality forwards in our current predicament.
Not only has this club lost Rafa Benitez and several season ticket holders as a result, we are currently manager-less and are yet to make a single signing so far this summer.
If we somehow manage to attract a well respected manager then the odd decent signing may arrive, but I really struggle to see how we'll bring in adequate Perez/Rondon replacements while there's so much uncertainty and negativity surrounding the club.
I'd like to see Charnley and co. prove me wrong, but I'd FAR rather they sold up and allowed new owners to come in and show the sort of ambition we've been starved of for over a decade now.
