Lee Clark believes both Philippe Coutinho and Wilfried Zaha would be “realistic signings” for Newcastle United should a £300m Saudi takeover be approved by the Premier League.
While some won’t want to here it until a buyout is official, talk of future transfers have been rife since news of Mike Ashley’s proposed exit was first reported.
With some silly names having been linked already, Clark rightfully states the Kylian Mbappe’s of this world would be out of our reach, however he still feels we’ll be able to sign top players looking to get their career back on track – using Coutinho as a prime example.
Speaking to Tribal Football, here’s what he’s had to say about the players we could realistically attract ahead of a potential takeover:
“Philippe Coutinho and Wilfried Zaha are realistic signings for me. I know the Kylian Mbappes and that have been mentioned and you don’t know whether that has just been humour.
“I think those type of players are out of Newcastle United’s reach at this moment in time. Now further down the line, if the club gets moving into Champions League places and it is challenging domestically, then they could eventually be realistic targets.
“In this moment in time, the Mbappes of this world are not. But certainly players like Zaha and Coutinho, who needs to get his career back on track to where he was when he was back in the Premier League with Liverpool, certainly those players would be of interest and could have a strong interest in Newcastle United and joining at the start of what could be a huge project.”
The fact a potential move for Phillipe Coutinho is being considered as ‘realistic’ if a Saudi backed takeover went through shows just how much money they’ve got behind them. Because, let’s face it, both a big wage and the newfound ambition that could come with it are just about the only two things that could attract the Brazilian to Tyneside right now!
Players of his ilk could easily say no, with many likely to demand Champions League football and a team competing at the top NOW, not next year, however it could be a smart move to target top players who’ve lost their way of late.
As for Zaha, I dread to think how Premier League defences would cope if we had both he and Saint-Maximin running down the wings!
It’s all fantasy talk for now, but IF this takeover was approved by the Premier League, which *realistic* signing would you like to see new owners (and likely a new manager) look at?
if the premier league are waiting on this report why are they waiting for this report does the W TO now run the premier league as all these pundits keep saying this report is a big hurdle to get over the premiere league is TAKING THERE **** TIME OUT of us supports they don’t want us to be a major force in the premier league and as for the journalists they should be in Hollywood with their stories every day they have written more scripts than coronation street on this takeover
THOMAS ROBSON(Quote)