Newcastle to raid Aston Villa or Bournemouth? - Ones to watch ahead of June 30th
Last summer, Newcastle were the victims of poor planning in line with PSR, forcing us to sell two exciting talents in Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to avoid a points deduction.
Our scramble for sales at the end of June allowed Premier League rivals to prey on our desperation - but the tables may turn in the first phase of this summer's transfer window.
Newcastle are in the market for a goalkeeper, centre-back, right-winger and striker, and it seems we're keeping a very close eye on the clubs who may be forced to sell before June 30th.
Newcastle one to watch in June?
Eddie Howe admitted last Friday that Newcastle have one eye on early deals and the vulnerable clubs approaching June with PSR issues, which has got journalists around the North East talking.
Speaking on his Youtube channel, The Mail's Craig Hope asks "who could Newcastle take advantage" of and namechecks Bournemouth and Aston Villa as two clubs we may target.
He said: "There is Antoine Semenyo at Bournemouth. There is talk of a £60m+ price tag, but I don't see it, especially if they have financial issues.
Hope added: "Could he be the one they go in for, below market value?", before questioning if Newcastle could come in with a cheeky bid for the two-footed winger who is thought to have admirers on Tyneside for his power, versatility and explosive ability in the final third.
Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers was briefly mentioned by Hope as a player Newcastle may hypothetically look at, but the North-East writer feels the supremely talented attacking midfielder may be a stretch too far.
"There has been talk of Villa needing to sell Morgan Rogers this summer, " he said. "Where would he play if Newcastle threw their hat into the ring? He could play on the right, but the issue with Rogers is that his best position is absolutely as a No.10."
Hope would "be surprised" if Newcastle did make a move, but there may be others at Villa Park of interest. Jacob Ramsey has admirers on Tyneside and can play in a few positions down that left. One to watch, perhaps?
Waugh adds to Bournemouth intrigue
The Athletic's Chris Waugh has also provided an update on the possibility of June arrivals at St James' Park in the final month of the financial year.
Asked in a Q&A session if the club could make early signings and exploit potential PSR problems for Premier League rivals before the June 30th deadline, Waugh suggested that Newcastle will be looking to pounce if the right deals become available.
Here is what he had to say, name-checking five Bournemouth stars on our radar and insisting that the 'need to sell' no longer lingers over us like it did 12 months ago:
"There is a chance that Newcastle may be active during that window, but it will largely be dependent upon who is potentially available and whether they qualify for the Champions League.
"If a club has some PSR issues and Newcastle sense an opportunity to capitalise and snatch a potential (relative) bargain, then they may act. Multiple Bournemouth players are admired, for example — Antoine Semenyo, Justin Kluivert, Illya Zabarnyi and Dean Huijsen, although the latter has a release clause anyway — and, should the south-coast club require sales before June 30, then Newcastle may look to act.
"Outlining Newcastle’s exact PSR position is difficult because we do not have access to up-to-date figures. Some inside the club have suggested there is scope to make incomings before the end of the financial year, whereas others have played down that likelihood.
"Certainly, Newcastle do not need to sell before the end of June as things stand, although there is also the possibility that they could sell to buy. That seems unlikely, given the extremely short nature of the early-June window. Newcastle are planning to be busy this summer and most, if not all, of their business is expected to take place during the longer ‘second’ window, rather than the pre-Club World Cup one. But do not entirely rule out the possibility of one or two deals then."
