Four relegated players Newcastle could sign this summer
The summer window will kick into gear soon and we will continue our series of articles that highlight players that Newcastle should be looking to sign. This one focuses on the three relegated clubs from the Premier League. In previous years, Eddie Howe has looked at these clubs for potential value, as we have signed Nick Pope and Tino Livramento.
The quality of the three that went down this year may be a little bit worse, but there are still a few players that might catch our eye.
James Trafford – Burnley
In the last few days, there have been links in the media to James Trafford. It is safe to assume he is on the list of goalkeeping targets, despite being met with an underwhelming response on social media.
It will be hoped by interested clubs that he will be available for a reasonable fee, with Burnley unlikely to stand in his way if he does want to leave. Trafford had a difficult debut season in the Premier League and was dropped towards the end of the campaign.
However, he was thrown into a difficult environment and the defence in front of him were conceding lots of chances. It looked like he wasn’t ready for the Premier League and his confidence drained as the months progressed.
That doesn’t make him a lost cause. Trafford is regarded as one of the best keeping talents in England and played a key role in the U21 team winning the European Championships last summer. Gareth Southgate has included him in the initial training squad for Euro 2024.
The Three Lions still regard him as a future England number one, but he needs the right pathway. Nick Pope remains our number one and if we don’t opt to replace him, Trafford is an option to be signed as the number two.
The view would be to develop him into Pope’s replacement in a few years’ time. Many would doubt this move by the club, but Trafford is fairly experienced for a 21-year-old. He still has time to develop into a very good goalkeeper.
Oliver Arblaster – Sheffield United
There wasn’t a lot to take from Sheffield United’s squad this season. There were a few players that looked good enough for the Premier League, but few would meet our requirements. Oliver Arblaster is perhaps one that might be worth keeping an eye on.
The young midfielder returned from Port Vale in the middle of the season and managed to get into the first team. Further to this, Arblaster also wore the captain’s armband on occasion, which underlined how highly he was thought of by Chris Wilder. He was one of the few that were displaying consistency and fighting for every ball on the pitch.
Arblaster’s tenacity and ability to stand out in a struggling team will have put him on the radars of many clubs. At the age of 20, he still has a lot of room for development. In the game at St James’ Park, his ball carrying caught the eye, as he completed five dribbles.
He wanted to get on the ball and make things happen. It is easy for young players to shy away when you’re playing in a losing team, but Arblaster didn’t do that. The midfielder might not be one for this summer, but if he has a good season in the Championship, he could be worth following.
Wilson Odobert – Burnley
It would be wise for the club to sign two strikers this summer if Callum Wilson goes. They need a primary back-up for Alexander Isak and would also benefit from a young forward capable of covering across the front line.
Maybe the lack of European football means this is no longer a huge priority, but it would make the squad appear more balanced. Any 19-year-old forward with over 2000 minutes in the Premier League is worth a second look and Wilson Odobert looks to be a player with talent.
The Burnley forward contributed three goals and two assists in a struggling team, which aren’t great numbers. However, he played across the front line and did show flashes of ability. Odobert has been capped plenty of times in the France age group teams and looks to have a bright future.
Although he remains raw, especially off the ball, Odobert clearly has talent. He is exciting to watch with the ball, with an average of 4.38 progressive carries, 3.26 shot creating actions and 2.1 shots per ninety minutes. His pace is an asset and he is already able to perform in the Premier League.
If he was available for a reasonable fee, it could be a good investment this summer, as he would provide depth across the forward positions. His underlying numbers would indicate he is capable of having an explosive Championship season. If that happens, his price tag could treble by the summer of 2025, especially if Burnley are promoted. This could be the time for a buying team to act.
Elijah Adebayo – Luton Town
Newcastle will be in the market for a striker this summer, as Wilson is believed to be one of the players set to leave. Links to Dominic Calvert-Lewin have been met with a lack of enthusiasm, but it might point towards the club’s plans.
It might be that the big funds are being saved for other positions and Howe wants a reliable back-up striker for a reasonable fee with Premier League experience. Elijah Adebayo could be a player that fits the bill. He has similar physical attributes to Calvert-Lewin, while he has shown that he can score in the Premier League.
The striker scored ten goals in 27 Premier League games at a rate of one every 141.9 minutes, which is a very healthy strike rate. This included a hat-trick against Brighton and a goal at St James’ Park. Adebayo did miss time with injury, but he showed his ability to perform in the top flight.
Without ever being prolific, Adebayo is a regular scorer with ten or more in three of his last four seasons. As he has moved up the leagues, he has remained as effective and Premier League clubs will be looking at him this summer.
The worry with Adebayo is his shot volume, as he averaged only 1.97 shots per ninety minutes. He did often play as a withdrawn striker, with Carlton Morris being the more advanced of the two. As a link-up player and creator, Adebayo does share some similarities with Isak in playing style. Meanwhile, his size and ball carrying are other strengths. He has significantly less quality than our starting striker, but if you are comparing stylistically, he is much closer than Callum Wilson ever was. Off the ball, Adebayo works hard and would be a great fit for Eddie Howe’s preference for physical players.
The Luton striker would be down the list of viable targets and the hope would be that the club buy a more exciting option. That being said, if Calvert-Lewin is a target, then Adebayo could be too.
