After a frustrating run of transfer windows dominated by PSR, our previous need to sell and struggles to secure first-team signings, there is a strong belief this summer will be very different at Newcastle United.
Yasir Al-Rumayyan’s recent visit to Tyneside was thought to feature ambitious discussions over PIF’s ‘project 2030’ plans and the desire to not only keep our best players, but also back Eddie Howe with a number of new signings.
We won’t be resting on our laurels after that Carabao Cup success and it’s hoped this is the dawn of a new era at Newcastle, whose off-field transfer movements will be largely overseen by Paul Mitchell this summer.
In what will be his first full summer at the club, it sounds like our sporting director has big plans in place:
A mixture of set signings to arrive?
Paul Mitchell is still waiting for his first major signing at Newcastle and it sounds like he plans to recruit a mixture of top domestic talent and overseas gems this summer.
The Telegraph report that the majority of our business is likely to centre around signing exciting young talents from abroad, mixed in with one or two established Premier League players.
While some of the focus may be on value-for-money gems as Mitchell looks to tap into his extensive list of overseas contacts from his work in France, Germany and Belgium, Luke Edwards hints that one ‘marquee’ addition with Premier League experience is expected to sign.
Who that could be remains to be seen at this early stage, but it’s on course to be an exciting summer as the club continue to work on plans to sign a goalkeeper, centre-back, right-winger and striker at the very minimum.
Mitchell’s squad ‘mission’
According to The Telegraph, ‘multiple sources’ have also revealed Paul Mitchell’s plan to reduce the average age of Eddie Howe’s squad.
There is a belief that certain players are approaching the end of their ‘shelf-life’ on Tyneside, meaning an injection of youth is set to arrive this summer to spark new life into a squad in danger of going stale.
Kieran Trippier (34), Callum Wilson (33), Fabian Schar (33), Dan Burn (32), Jamaal Lascelles (31) and Martin Dubravka (36) in the latter stages of their careers and it’s almost certain that a few of those depart this summer.
Schar is expected to sign a new deal soon and Burn remains a vital part of Howe’s squad, but it is no surprise to see Mitchell scouring the market for top young centre-backs given the number of defenders in our ranks over the age of 30.
Player trading remains ‘important’ despite our much improved PSR situation and we could well see the likes of Sean Longstaff depart, with ‘pure profit’ on offer as he approaches the final 12 months of his current deal.
