Newcastle official sent on scouting mission ahead of recruitment meetings – Report

According to a new report, Newcastle United sent a scout to take a closer look at some Championship talent this week.

The Chronicle have revealed that Paul Mitchell sent a Toon talent spotter to watch Coventry’s 2-2 draw with Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon as our recruitment team prepare for a series of transfer meetings ahead of the January window.

It’s not clear who the unnamed Newcastle scout was in the stands to watch – Sheffield United’s Gustavo Hamer and Coventry’s Ben Sheaf are considered too good for the Championship by some – but there’s certainly value to be had in the second tier, with James Maddison (Norwich), Ebere Eze (QPR), Joao Pedro (Watford), Ollie Watkins (Brentford), Jarrod Bowen (Hull) and Adam Wharton (Blackburn) just a few examples of Championship players who are now established stars in the Premier League.

Sporting Director Paul Mitchell has also previously emphasised the importance of signing emerging talent before they make it big, suggesting that the recruitment of hidden gems is preferrable in the world of PSR to spending huge sums of ready-made stars worth £50m plus.

Speaking to the media after a frustrating summer transfer window, Mitchell said: “I think good players are becoming harder to find because scouting is so competitive.

“But I think Eddie recognises good players and he also recognises this club is evolving to be bigger, and bigger and bigger. If you look at the super clubs, their infrastructure, their recruitment, they don’t just look at one market only.

“They have a wider scouting and recruitment network. I think Eddie is smart enough to understand – and he definitely is – that to go to the next level that you do have to diversify. Otherwise, you just stay local and retire. I think our ambition is much greater than that.”