Newcastle are planning to make “two or three quality signings” this summer according to The Athletic, with Steve Bruce eyeing a proven goalscorer and ‘box-to-box’ midfielder.
This comes from Chris Waugh’s latest piece on the transfer front, which states Steve Bruce and co. will be adopting the policy or ‘quality over quantity’ this summer.
Interestingly (and slightly worryingly), he also reports that Bruce would like to sign a striker with experience at Premier League level – yet claims the club are far more likely to release greater funds for a ‘European import’
Here’s a snippet from The Athletic, which offers some interesting insights on our summer transfer plans:
Bruce still wants a box-to-box midfielder, even if sources have expressed doubt about whether Newcastle will return for Soumare, who turned down the move after Lille accepted a bid. But striker is the position he will stress needs bolstering.
Those in recruitment circles believe Newcastle want “two or three quality” additions this summer, including a centre-forward.
Preliminary transfer discussions have already taken place, with managing director Lee Charnley, head of recruitment Steve Nickson and Bruce all involved.
Nickson and his scouting team have been on talent-spotting trips to South America, Germany and elsewhere across Europe, with forwards primary among their watch-lists. Joelinton and Allan Saint-Maximin were both followed for more than six months before they joined last summer and any striker targeted in this close-season will almost certainly have been tracked long term, too.
Ideally, Bruce would like to bring in a forward with English top-flight experience — which is partly why Newcastle re-signed Andy Carroll last summer — but greater funds are likely to be released for another European import.
After several signings were all but agreed BEFORE Bruce arrived from Sheffield Wednesday last summer – Joelinton was clearly one of them – Waugh claims the Newcastle boss will ‘make his views heard’ this time around.
Ashley has clearly listened recently, with some surprised to see him hand new deals to Fernandez (31), Ritchie (30), Shelvey (28), but history suggests Bruce will have a job on his hands getting big money signings sanctioned for players over the age of 25:
Tying Jonjo Shelvey and Matt Ritchie down to new deals may hint that Bruce wants to keep as much know-how in the side as possible, potentially because he suspects younger players with sell-on value are what he is most likely to be given elsewhere.
He will make his views heard this time, however, having only arrived from Sheffield Wednesday once a deal with Hoffenheim for Joelinton was almost inevitable.
Whoever Newcastle end up targeting, though, he must be an out-and-out striker who can both lead the line and offer a goal threat.
“Quality not quantity” seems to be the mantra inside St James’ Park when it comes to the upcoming window and that simply must apply to signing a striker.
But not just any striker; an out-and-out centre-forward and goalscorer, not another Joelinton-style experiment.
The same piece also suggests Bruce will be handed around ‘£60-80m’ to spend this summer, but it’s insisted that this total will also have to cover agent fees and wages.
If we’re eyeing a proven goalscorer from Europe and a box-to-box midfielder, who would you like to see us look at?
