In his latest piece for The Telegraph, North-East reporter Luke Edwards has offered an update on the Toon transfer front, naming three domestic targets on Eddie Howe’s wishlist.
He reports that James Maddison, Kieran Tierney and Scott McTominay have all been identified as targets, with Eddie Howe preferring to recruit players with experience in British football who he has ‘watched extensively.’
However, it seems a move for Maddison could prove difficult. According to The Telegraph, Newcastle ‘fear’ the Leicester City star ‘wants to join a club that is in a position to win silverware immediately’, while concerns also exist around rival bidders offering him more money that we’d be willing to.
Tottenham and Man City have both been heavily linked, highlighting the importance of beating the former to a top four finish if we’re competing for Maddison in a few months time.
As Edwards reveals, the club feel greater strength in depth will be required for us to compete domestically and in Europe next season. We have not secured European football yet, but it’s looking highly likely in some capacity in 2023/24, whether that be Champions League, Europa League or the Europa Conference League.
Pursuing Premier League proven players makes sense if they’re good enough – Maddison and Tierney would be both be brilliant, in my opinion – but I feel there’s a host of gems on the continent who’d be significantly better than McTominay; a player well down the pecking order at a club we’re trying to better.
