It’s no secret that this summer is a crucial one for the club in terms of recruitment.
A new, robust striker to replace Callum Wilson, an upgrade at RW and a defensively minded midfielder, or a “number 6” to to use the parlance of our time are all rightly mentioned as immediate priorities to improve the first team and push on. Given this season’s defensive woes, and the fact that both Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman will likely be missing for the rest of the calendar year, strengthening the defence is going to be as crucial as any other department, and not just in the short term.
Since the takeover, the average age of the squad has been dramatically reduced, and the clear blueprint of signing potential to develop is bearing fruit. Numerous links to potential defensive targets have began to surface recently, which is a positive, as the club are clearly aware that replacing the vast majority of the current pool of defenders over the next two to three windows is a high priority.
Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier, Jamaal Lascelles, and Paul Dummett are all over 30, while Emil Krafth joins that exclusive club this summer.
Whilst Dummett’s contract expires this summer, Krafth and Lascelles will be retained next season. Unfortunately, most of the club captain’s new one year deal will be spent recovering from his aforementioned ACL injury. It’s safe and sad to assume the club are planning on life without him. Burn and Schar still have plenty to offer, and will play plenty of games next season, especially with some form of European football now appearing very likely. Trippier will be an interesting one to watch after his Bayern Munich links in January. While the club decided at the time he was too important to let go, a similar offer this summer could be tempting, and the club may feel that short term pain for long term gain is the way to go, in the murky and boring world of PSR spreadsheets.
Both full back positions appear to have been well thought through, with an outlay that could exceed £70m on Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall. Despite concerns and criticism of Howe at times about their lack of game time in the short term, both of them seem to be outstanding talents. Both signings were rightly heralded at the time, and the club praised for its succession planning and joined up thinking. They started together for the first time vs Sheffield United much to our delight, and showed an exciting glimpse into the future. Their ball carrying ability and pace in comparison to Burn and Trippier, will give the team a new dynamic.
There’s also young RB Harrison Ashby, signed for next to nothing after he rejected a new deal at West Ham, and who is currently on loan at Swansea City. He’s impressed at times, but has also suffered injuries and has only made 13 starts. There were even whispers that he was signed purely to be sold and boost our PSR bottom line.
A younger, right sided central defender is certainly a priority this summer, ideally someone who can step in and replace Schar as Botman’s long term partner seemlessly. If recent reports are to be believed, then Sporting Lisbon’s 20 year old Ivorian, Ousmane Diomande could be the man who fits that bill, and Juventus’ 19 year old Dutch starlet Dean Huijsen is another one strongly linked. He’s currently on a season long loan at AS Roma, where he’s made 13 appearances.
Rumours of less glamorous moves for Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly, and Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo are currently doing the rounds, with both players out of contract this summer. Both would be sensible signings if they happen, as they are PL ready, and would be essentially younger, more athletic, more technically sound squad replacements for Lascelles and Dummett, although there are very valid concerns over Kelly’s injury record.
There also appears to be some talent coming through the ranks, although with more of an eye on the long term. Irish youngster Alex Murphy had a decent pre-season, and despite being a CB by trade came on at LB vs Sheffield Utd, where a divine invention from VAR spared him conceding a penalty. A loan move next season to either the Championship or League One could be ideal for the 21 year old’s development. Then there’s his countryman Cathal Heffernan, 19, who arrived last year from AC Milan. He was seen as a major coup for the academy, and certainly caught the eye for the development squad during the Champions League games.
So exciting and interesting times lie ahead. One thing that is still taking some getting used to as a Newcastle United fan, is knowing that there is a process and will to improve. Despite last summer not being quite right in the short term, the recruitment for the most part has been exceptional, and we’re in good hands.
HTL!
