Newcastle United are tearing up trees at the moment. Although a loss last weekend to Arsenal was a little blip, the top 4 is pretty much secured, and there is a lot to look forward to next season.
The next game against Leeds is a big one, of course, and the Magpies will be looking to pick up all 3 points when they visit Elland Road. Champions League football will mean Newcastle can start attracting some of Europe’s biggest names to pull on the black-and-white stripes.
Not since the heady season of 02/03 have Toon fans been able to quietly hum the iconic Champions League song (or shout ‘THE CHAMPIONS!’ at the top of their voice like a complete lunatic) but this year it looks a real possibility, so how will that affect Newcastle when they conduct their transfer business this summer?
Dare we dream of Neymar?
Gary Neville went on record to say a signing like the PSG forward Neymar would frighten the life out of him. The Sky Sports pundit said, “That would scare me to death, that sort of signing. They’re going to need to do it at some point, go for those big-name signings, and they’re going to need to make that jump, and Eddie’s (Howe) going to need to be brave at a point and say, ‘yeah, let’s go for it”.
At this stage of the rebuild, a signing like Neymar may be far-fetched, but with the prospect of Champions League football looming over the horizon, Mr Neville may have a point.
There will be a time when Newcastle will have to go after the best players in order to compete and go for the big trophies such as the Premier League and the Champions League. Punters currently think there is an outside chance that Newcastle could take the Premier League crown. Betting sites with slots games have the Toon as 12/1 to win next year’s EPL.
First class recruitment
The recruitment for the first team since Amanda Staveley and Yasir Al-Rumayyan stepped into their roles at the club s been brilliant, and the club’s position in the league table is evidence of that. Some very shrewd signings (like Trippier and Isak) have taken the Toon to another level.
Some would argue that a bit of star power would not hurt the club; it would bring more eyes onto the Magpies (yes, I’m aware that rhymes), which could have a snowball effect. Once one huge name comes through the door, more usually follow. Now I’m not suggesting that Newcastle United become PSG, but some of the clever recruitment sprinkled with a couple of big-name signings could be the perfect cocktail for success.
Bruno Guimares, Botman and Isak are the three ‘big’ names that have arrived most recently to Newcastle’s shores but with top 4 so close we can taste it, signing another three players of this ilk should be twice as easy with the guarantee of European nights thrown into the bargain
This summer’s transfer window is crucial
The next transfer window will be a big one for the Toon. Fans will watch eagerly to see what kind of business the club will do in the summer. This is also why locking down Champion League football this summer is such a blessing, and I wonder if any Newcastle fan thought we would be in this position at the beginning of the season. The project has taken a giant leap forward two years earlier than scheduled.
Newcastle United are currently in a great position; the board are doing all the right things, and the performances on the pitch have been excellent for the most part all season. Now it’s time to secure the Champions League place and take the next leap forward.