Cronky

LInked to Bonucci - https://www.teamtalk.com/newcastle-united/talks-legendary-juventus-star-reject-saudi-arabia-mls-offers-final-challenge Shoot ye not the messenger.

He's mean, moody and MAGnificent

From what I understand of our FFP position, we do need to raise some revenue if we're going to strengthen the squad as much as we can this window. ASM is the only one who would fetch a significant fee. For me, the decision is clear. And aside from his injury problems, yes I do think he's over-rated.

Thanks for posting that. It really does show that we've still got quite a mountain to climb before we can compete in the transfer market in the same way as the 'big six'. We need Eddie to keep on working his magic for a few more years yet. But who's to say he won't.

But what does that do to the likes of Anderson and Miley, working and hoping for their chance and then seeing themselves being temporarily overtaken by a player who is just there to boost his own game so that he can be sent back to his parent club? I can see why Eddie's not keen on loans.

Yes, in a heartbeat.

I wasn't able to read the original Telegraph article - only a synopsis. However, I think the big six will be even more reluctant to help us out in that way than they would with a loan.

Some interesting issues being flagged up here. My two pence - Eddie has said he's not that keen on taking players on loan. The way he put it was you don't get a player's 'soul'. Okay, only half-serious, but I think I know what he meant. He wants to see commitment. Re Phillips / Gallagher, we've yet to sign any players from the big six, and I suspect there's some tacit agreement there not to help us out. Phillips is a good player, and I'm not too bothered that he's not broken through at City because he's up against the best DM in the world in Rodri. But whatever, I can't see that happening. I think there's some mileage in the idea of using Gordon as a striker. Apart from making better use of his pace, I think he needs a more flexible, freer role than he gets out wide. And finally, the longer this window goes on, the more I think that the reported budget restriction of £75m to £100m is probably right.

Liverpool were getting some momentum towards the end of last season, and this lad looks classy. I think they'll be Man City's closest challengers next season.

Not at the fee that Man U would want, or the wages he'd ask for, I'd suspect. Man Utd has been the graveyard for quite a few promising careers in recent times. Really we want players who would see us as an upward move.

We're going to need a much bigger squad to cope with the extra fixtures, and Nelson on a free would be a good addition. And it would be really great to take him away from Arsenal and for Eddie to produce the sorts of improvements in him that we've seen with other members of the squad. It doesn't look like we'll win any transfer battles with the 'blg six' for the time being, so we have to build gradually (which of course has its own merits anyway)

Only seen him in clips, but if 'intensity' is the cornerstone in Eddie's strategy, then this lad has it in spades.

Interesting article from the Telegraph, if it's not been posted before. How Newcastle United will land a player nobody thought they would be able to get The club's recruitment team believe they will have an elite level player in Sandro Tonali – who has plenty of room to improve Newcastle United will confirm the signing of Sandro Tonali later this week after a whirlwind of activity that has landed a player nobody thought they would be able to get. It is a story of secret negotiations, a sprinkling of subterfuge and something bordering on giddy excitement as Newcastle realised they were able to sign a world-class midfielder for just £52 million – roughly half the price West Ham’s Declan Rice will move for. Rice featured in early recruitment meetings as the club’s transfer committee convened, led by director of football Dan Ashworth, manager Eddie Howe and chief scout Steve Nickson. It also involved co-owner Amanda Staveley, her husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi and fellow consortium representative Jamie Reuben, as well as Howe’s nephew Andy. All would have loved to have signed the England international, but it rapidly became clear it was impossible. With an asking price of more than £100 million and wage demands well in excess of the £120,000 Newcastle pay captain Kieran Trippier, the club simply could not compete because of financial fair play rules. They have spent £250 million net since the takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in October 2021. The question posed was simple. “If we cannot sign Rice, who are the other players who compare to him?” Newcastle scouted Germany’s Bundesliga and France Ligue 1 extensively and had various names on their shortlist. RB Leipzig’s Felix Nmecha and Nice’s Khephren Thuram featured prominently and would have been within budget. Newcastle had held a long-standing interest in Leicester City’s James Maddison, failing with a £40 million bid in July 2022. They once again investigated whether it was a deal that could be done at the end of last season. But with Leicester quoting an asking price of £60 million and doubts about whether the England international wanted to move to the North East, Newcastle decided they had far more pressing concerns and Tottenham stepped in to clinch a deal. There were also concerns that playing Maddison and their mercurial French winger Allan Saint-Maximin in the same team would mean a loss of defensive solidity and leave them more vulnerable to counter-attacks. They needed a completely different sort of signing in midfield. Nicolo Barella - The stealth and subterfuge that will lead Newcastle to sign Sandro Tonali and why they are so excited The club have had to consider alternatives for Nicola Barella amid transfer fee gap and competition Two players stood out - Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella and AC Milan’s Tonali. Both deals appealed, but there was a realisation they would be hard to pull off. A move for Barella came first, but preliminary talks confirmed the 26-year-old would cost around the same as Rice, both in terms of wages and fee. By the time Telegraph Sport disclosed Newcastle’s interest, which was confirmed by multiple sources and followed up worldwide, the club were moving quickly. Newcastle had learnt that AC Milan were in far greater need of money than Inter and would, reluctantly, consider selling Tonali. There was cautious optimism, but news of the talks could not leak or the deal would be dead before it had been given time to breathe. With a tentative approach for Nmecha already made, and with news of their interest in Barella whipping up a frenzy, Newcastle moved with speed but, crucially, stealth. Like a magician pulling off an audacious trick, they had their distraction. Even when news leaked in Italy they were going to pay more than £65 million for the Italy under-21 international, Newcastle were unmoved. They recognised the game and were being put under pressure in public to raise their offer for Tonali. Intensive talks continued and with personal terms agreed, which will put Tonali in the highest bracket of earners at St James’ Park alongside Trippier, Callum Wilson and Bruno Guimaraes, Newcastle merely had to come to an agreement on the structure of the deal. Claims the deal was completed last week were inaccurate, but by Monday it was 99 per cent done at £52 million. Newcastle’s recruitment team are thrilled and believe they have got a player who is already at an elite level, but who, at the age of 23, has plenty of room to improve. As one senior source told Telegraph Sport. “He is a player we did not think in May would come, he was a player we feared was out of reach to us, but we’ve managed to get one of the best young midfield players in Europe who we believe will be just as good as Declan Rice over the next few years. What will Tonali bring to the team? Newcastle wanted “technicians” in the middle of the pitch, as well as athleticism and vision. Tonali will bring all of these things. The Italian, according to Newcastle’s scouting reports, led by Andy Howe, will be able to take the ball under pressure and play through opposition lines. If teams sit back, which they are likely to do more and more against Newcastle, Tonali will help unlock tight defences. He will be able to punish teams whether they try to press him or sit deep. He is also more than capable of forcing turnovers, often leading the press at AC Milan. Intriguingly, Newcastle were not looking for a No 6 or a No 8 as had been assumed. Indeed, in conversations over the past few days there is something “retro” in the way Howe wants Newcastle’s midfield to play next season. You might even call it old fashioned. In an era where there is all sorts of tags and descriptions for midfield players, Newcastle wanted in old money what would have simply been called a centre midfielder; an all-rounder. The idea is Newcastle’s midfield will be fluid, not rigid. There will not be precise roles or positions, but rather a unit that works together in tandem, with each player shifting to different areas of the pitch, depending on the situation. There is the hope that Tonali’s arrival will free up Bruno to have more of an impact in the final third, but Tonali will go forward and impact play in this area, too. Freeing up is a loose term, but what it will give Newcastle is two ball players in the middle of the pitch, making it far harder for teams to shut them down. It brings a myriad of different options and Howe does not want his team to be too predictable in their patterns of play. There is an acceptance Tonali needs to be stronger and fitter to play in a Howe team. He will need to work hard in his first pre-season. The raw ingredients are there and in some areas of his game, he is the finished article. His passing range and accuracy is a huge appeal, as is his delivery from set-pieces. He will be encouraged to pass forward more often than he did in Italy, but that should make him even more dangerous.

I think this is it. There's been talk about his preference for a move to London for some time. It may be his partner's preference of course, which he'd have to take account of. I think he's a talented player, but maybe a team has to be built around him. Having said that, I'd have been quite happy to take a chance on him.

Never a good sign when parents act as agents.

Maybe Tripps will switch to the left? Not ideal, I know.

Not entirely surprised. I have wondered whether he'd be better in a more advanced and central role, perhaps around a main striker like Bellamy / Beardsley. However, Eddie doesn't seem to favour that formation.

I don't think Harvey Barnes offers us much more than we've already got. Admittedly I've only seen Szoboszlai on You tube, but he shows those extra bits of class that attract attention. Captain of his country at 22 is also impressive.

Only the Mail, but new CB link - David Hancko https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12229565/Newcastle-considering-Feyenoord-defender-David-Hancko.html

Just a thought - he's still got a couple of games to play with the Italian Under 21s. It's unlikely that he'll pick up a serious injury, but could the delay in completely finalising it be down to that? Assuming we sign him and then one or other of Szoboszlai or Maddison, then we look well stacked in the midfield. I'd like us to buy another striker for a third option in the event of Isak and Wilson both being injured. That and a left back and we'll be sorted. It's true that many Italians haven't done well in English football, but that's often down to a problem in adjusting to the physical side of our game. That doesn't look like a problem for this lad.

Okay, I shall try to rise to the challenge. He's Italian, he's hard sprays the ball 40 yards that's Tonali...! Left Milan for the Tyne wins the ball every time that's Tonali...! Likes Asti Spumante He's better than Kante Tonali! And he runs like a cheetah Our Geordie world-beater Tonali!

Not my original work but - He's Italian, he's hard, sprays the ball 40 yards, that's Tonali. Left Milan for the Tyne, wins the ball every time, that's Tonali. (And so on...?)

It reminds me of the North American Soccer League in the 60s and 70s. Buying stars towards the ends of their careers (Pele, Best, Cruyff, Beckenbauer), and hoping those big names will draw in the interest. It failed because it didn't draw in any depth of talent. Football has to grow in a country from the bottom upwards, not top downwards. That takes time.

Well personally, I'm impressed.

With all this talk about our budget, I wasn't expecting us to pay quite so much for one player. I don't know if this means we're going for quality not quantity. Tonalifan's description of him very much mirrors what you see on You Tube - a real 100%-er, and versatile. That's perked me up a bit.