With certain fans becoming increasingly impatient at our lack of attacking arrivals, does Bayern’s move for Mathys Tel and Nottingham Forest’s outrageous bid for Morgan Gibbs-White show us how difficult it is to get the right one over the line at the right price?
Munich have signed the 17-year-old Stade Rennes striker for an initial fee of £17m that should rise to £25m once add-ons come into play. An astronomical price for a player that has played less than 100 minutes of senior football, did not even start a Ligue 1 match last season and is yet to score or even assist professionally.
In addition, some breaking news has just emerged on Morgan Gibbs-White, with a host of outlets confirming that Nottingham Forest have just agreed a deal worth a staggering £44m for the attacking midfielder. He’s a talent, but this sort of money for a man who has one goal and one assist in 48 Premier League appearances is crazy.
Oh and don’t even get me started on Anthony Gordon. The fact he could seal a £50m move to Chelsea after Everton knocked back a £45m bid is beyond me. The market has gone mad.
The bids we’ve seen for Gibbs-White and Gordon certainly make you realise why Leicester City rejected our £40m offer for James Maddison – a proven operator who is slightly older, yet far more prolific at this level.
The crazy bids and inflated fees must be making things even tougher for a Newcastle United who are already finding it hard to do business at the right price.
Back to Tel, who am I to question Bayern’s transfer business – but boy does it make you think! Newcastle are almost certainly in the market for a high-quality young striker who can compete with Callum Wilson and, just as importantly, step-in if our number nine succumbs to his annual injury.
We also saw what happened with Ekitike. His time-wasting agent held out so his client could go to PSG and presumably sit on the bench behind Mbappe, Messi and Neymar. It was reported that we’d only pay £12m up front for the former Reims man, but it seems deals like that have been hard to come by since he ditched us for the Ligue 1 giants last month.
Bayern have gambled massively and perhaps can take the hit. Tel may well go out on loan and it may well turn out to be a brilliant investment that reaps long-term gain. We shall see. But what it does say to me is how difficult it must be for Newcastle – who are still dubbed the ‘richest club in the world’ – to work in this market when unproven talents will now cost you £25-£35m.
If a 17-year-old untried youngster can command such a fee then, what sort of fees are being quoted to Mr Ashworth? Particularly when you add on the so-called Newcastle Tax. It seems only reasonable that The Toon want to explore and continue to explore every avenue.
I still feel we’ll make a marque signing this summer. Whether it’s a striker or a winger. Which ever one of those it may be, the other may have to be a loan. One thing is for certain, we’re in a market where the seller dictates and the buyer may have to stretch beyond budget.
Mathys Tel and Morgan Gibbs-White are probably good barometers as to how difficult this market. Us fans must therefore trust in the backstage boys to get it right in a way that moves our ‘new’ Club forward and not backwards.
We must sign new attacking talent if we’re to mount a charge towards Europe anytime soon, but we must not be held to ransom!
It makes Wolve’s move for Matheus Nunes look very shrewd – a genuinely top class player proven at international level and in the Champions League for less money than they sell Gibbs-White for. Would have loved Newcastle to have added Nunes to our midfield but not a priority given the FFP restrictions and our need for added firepower. Does FFP not apply to Forest?
Toonster(Quote)
I honestly think Newcastle are finished their transfer business.Maybe just looking at loans for now and pay later. Hasn’t been a great transfer market for Newcastle considering we are worth a fortune and I know about the fare rules.They need to get Rid of Chris Wood he is Useless.Even try him as a Defender 😂😂😂😂.
Jonboy(Quote)
It won’t apply if they stay up.
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
Need to get your **** in gear and pay up your in danger of becoming a bargain basement shopper. How much do you expect to pay for a half decent striker. Danger is September the 1st.
Bootyboy(Quote)
I can’t understand why we aren’t more interested in Joshua Zirkzee; 16 goals last season on loan in 38 matches in Belgian Pro League, 21 year old, 6′ 4″ and supposedly 17m. What am I missing, anyone?
Tooniethrunthru(Quote)