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midds

by midds
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cranna

cranna

Posted
Posted
17 minutes ago, Doc said:

Is he reading the headline there?

 

This seems to be the best way for Newcastle: to bring in good players from second rated clubs. Forget bringing players from Sevilla, Atalanta or Lille, they will only sell for double the player's real value.

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Guest reefatoon

Guest reefatoon

Posted
Posted (edited)

I have a feeling the last few days of this window are going to be glorious viewing for us. An awful lot of posturing from clubs at the moment, but things will change closer to the time and we will be bringing players in all over the gaff.

 

 

Edited by reefatoon

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The Prophet

The Prophet

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https://theathletic.com/3079519/2022/01/19/newcastle-transfers-explained-diego-carlos-jesse-lingard-duvan-zapata-and-more?source=user-shared-article

 

Two signings secured, but ideally several more to go — Newcastle United are far from finished when it comes to their January transfer dealings.

 

Yet despite their financial might and their determination to deliver new players to Eddie Howe early, the notoriously difficult nature of the mid-season window is slowing down the pace of their business, with Sevilla yet to relent and sell Diego Carlos, the centre-back.

 

So, what can Newcastle fans, and their head coach, expect from the final week and a half of the window?

 

Let’s start with the business they still want to do — which positions are they actively looking to strengthen?

 

Come February 1, ideally, Newcastle will have signed — on top of Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood — two new centre-backs, a left-back, at least one central midfielder and another forward, while even a goalkeeper addition has not been ruled out.

 

But whether all of that business can be concluded is another matter entirely.

 

The priority position to strengthen, as it has been since Howe first arrived at the club in November, is at centre-half, and there is some internal frustration that fresh defenders were not secured before last Saturday’s deflating 1-1 draw with Watford, their relegation rivals.

 

Still, that is not due to a lack of effort and, aside from a temporary deviation to exercise Wood’s £25 million Burnley release clause once the severity of Callum Wilson’s injury was confirmed, the main focus has been on attempting to bring in central defenders.

 

Is Diego Carlos their top centre-back target? Do they have other options?

 

The Brazilian has become the top centre-back target since Newcastle reluctantly accepted defeat in their pursuit of Sven Botman, the 21-year-old Lille defender. Previously, the Dutchman had been earmarked by Steve Nickson, the head of recruitment, as the most exciting defensive prospect Newcastle could hope to lure — and the plan was to pair him with Carlos.

 

However, while Carlos is even more receptive to moving to Tyneside than Botman was, and has communicated his desire to depart to Sevilla, Newcastle’s ambitious vision for the restructuring of their backline has yet to become a reality.

 

There has been hope, expressed by those close to the deal, that Sevilla will eventually accept the 28-year-old’s wishes, but it seems that Newcastle will need to bid well beyond the £30 million mark first, having seen a series of offers rebuffed.

 

Carlos’ release clause stands at €80 million yet, while Sevilla are expected to deal for significantly less than that, Newcastle are yet to meet the asking price they do want.

 

The reality is that, with the Spanish club chasing a first La Liga title since 1946 and set to host the Europa League final in May, they do not want to lose a starting defender mid-season, particularly before a replacement is secured.

Although talks remain ongoing, it is still unclear whether a positive resolution can be reached.

 

Wisely, Newcastle are pursuing parallel negotiations and their interest in Monaco’s Benoit Badiashile remains live, even if those discussions are also fraught with complications. The 20-year-old would prefer a move to a Champions League club and has also suffered an injury.

 

Howe would also like a defender with Premier League experience and Newcastle are continuing to monitor Nat Phillips at Liverpool, Joe Rodon at Tottenham Hotspur and Issa Diop at West Ham United.

 

But they also have a long list of defenders across the continent, with many floated to them, including Koffi Djidji and Gleison Bremer at Torino, and Felix Uduokhai at Augsburg.

 

If Carlos proves unattainable, Newcastle will move on to other centre-backs, such is their need to strengthen a defence that has conceded 43 goals in 20 league matches.

 

When is the deadline for Newcastle to register signings so they can face Leeds on Saturday?

 

Premier League rules dictate that Newcastle must register new players with the organisation by midday on Friday for them to be eligible to play at Elland Road on Saturday.

 

But an additional administration hurdle Newcastle will face when bringing in players from abroad, such as Carlos, is that Home Office work permits must also be secured, and they can take up to five days to be completed.

 

Still, Newcastle can register a player before Friday at midday, pending a work permit, and if their visa is granted in time, they could feature at Leeds, though, given they will not have trained with the team, such an eventuality appears unlikely.

 

Have January transfer plans changed since the takeover was first confirmed?

 

The short answer is yes.

 

Amanda Staveley, the director, admitted in November that January is “not a window that we would ordinarily want to invest in”, but Newcastle’s ownership had already accepted by then that they would have to be active this month.

 

As Newcastle’s league position has become increasingly perilous, so too has the club’s need to conduct greater business, and they are on course to spend more than was initially earmarked when the takeover was confirmed.

 

In October, top-level sources indicated a budget of around £40 million-£50 million would be made available but, with £37 million already spent and expensive targets still on their shopping list, Newcastle could even go beyond the £100 million mark should they secure their premium targets.

 

Is business proving more difficult than the ownership anticipated? Is the absence of an executive structure harming their recruitment drive?

 

With no director of football nor CEO yet in place — Newcastle hope to have both positions filled within weeks — Staveley and her fellow director Jamie Reuben are overseeing negotiations, having received advice from Nicky Hammond, the former Reading and Celtic director of football, who has been consulted on a temporary basis. It is Nickson who has identified the players and, in tandem with Howe, is selecting targets.

 

Ideally, Newcastle would not be attempting to navigate such an important window without an executive structure in place and some agents and clubs have been disparaging of the consortium’s approach. However, sources dispute that Newcastle have not acted swiftly and instead argue that they are keen to avoid paying too much of a premium now and be made to continue parting with inflated sums in the long run.

 

While a regular criticism of Lee Charnley, the previous managing director, was that multiple deals were rarely negotiated at the same time, Newcastle’s recruitment team have been attempting to sign players for several positions simultaneously.

 

The message for almost a week now is that two deals are “close”, but neither has been concluded yet. While there has always been an acceptance that Newcastle will not land all of their priority players, there remains a confidence that, by February, the squad will be significantly stronger than it was before January and that, while it is difficult to expect patience when Newcastle’s need for signings is so great, it may take until the final throes of January for some positions to be reinforced.

 

Why are Newcastle being linked with so many players? Is most of it just speculation?

 

Newcastle are being linked to so many players because they are so desperate to strengthen their squad — and rumours are generated by enquiries they make, by players being recommended to them by agents and clubs, or by intermediaries who think it is in their client’s best interest to be linked with the nouveau riche outfit.

 

Take the Ousmane Dembele situation. Barcelona are keen to accentuate Newcastle’s supposed interest because it benefits them to do so, even though nobody on Tyneside actually expects the Frenchman to join. The same applies to reports that Newcastle had an offer accepted by Real Madrid for Eden Hazard, only for the Belgian to reject the move — unfortunately speculation like this is only likely to continue given the club’s new-found status as the “richest in the world”.

 

Yet, while much of the gossip must be treated with a healthy dose of scepticism, dozens of the names linked do harbour at least a shred of truth.

 

Newcastle are scouring the market, trying to find out which players are available, and there are claims that they have as many as 45 potential options for certain positions — and those lists will only continue to grow.

 

So Jesse Lingard, is he a genuine target?

 

There is interest in Lingard, yes, and this is the second time Newcastle have asked about the Manchester United attacking midfielder’s potential availability, having done so before the window opened.

 

At this stage, it is unclear whether the 29-year-old would actually be willing to join Newcastle, be it on loan or permanently, with reports claiming Lingard is keen to return to London, and with some sources claiming he would expect to receive significantly more than Newcastle’s highest earners.

 

Also, just as Newcastle were rebuffed when they made tentative contact about loaning Dean Henderson, the goalkeeper, there is a suspicion that Manchester United may keep hold of Lingard and other fringe players due to a fear that another COVID-19 outbreak could deplete their resources.

 

Who, out of the names out there, do we know Newcastle are genuinely interested in?

 

Interestingly, many of the players floated have been recommended repeatedly by Nickson.

 

Borussia Monchengladbach’s Alassane Plea and Atalanta’s Duvan Zapata have featured on lists in previous windows, just as Wood had. Zapata, in particular, is viewed as an ideal fit for the Premier League, but he would prove costly.

 

A younger forward who Newcastle admire is Reims’ Hugo Ekitike, though they value the 19-year-old at between £10 million and £15 million, not the £25 million-plus being quoted, and are refusing to engage at what they deem extortionate levels.

 

In midfield, beyond Lingard, several ambitious loan enquiries have been launched for, among others, Donny van de Beek at Manchester United, and Georginio Wijnaldum and Idrissa Gana Gueye at Paris Saint-Germain, to no avail yet. There is, though, a realisation that players are more likely to move on loan towards the end of January, so there is hope quality temporary signings can still arrive.

 

Todd Cantwell is also liked by Newcastle, though Norwich City’s asking price will need to drop for a deal to be reached. RB Leipzig’s Amadou Haidara, Marseille’s Boubacar Kamara and Lyon’s Bruno Guimaraes have also been scouted extensively.

 

At left-back, meanwhile, Sassuolo’s Rogerio has featured in conversations, but is not thought to be high up the list. Robin Gosens, of Atalanta, primarily a left wing-back, is also rated, though there appears little chance of the German, who is injured, joining mid-season.

 

What about outgoings? Doesn’t the squad have to be trimmed?

 

It does, because Newcastle already have 27 senior players and want to sign more before the deadline, but can only register 25 in their Premier League squad.

 

One obvious exit is a goalkeeper, given Newcastle have four. Freddie Woodman is likely to head out on loan, though Mark Gillespie may also be made available.

 

Sean Longstaff’s future is also uncertain, with less than six months remaining on his deal, though a move to Everton appears to have collapsed following Rafa Benitez’s dismissal. Dwight Gayle, who it is understood has resumed training, is also available, while Jeff Hendrick, Emil Krafth and Ciaran Clark are others who could be surplus to requirements.

 

But, just as Newcastle are being rebuffed for players due to COVID-19 fears, their own injury and coronavirus absences are preventing players from leaving yet, too. Elliot Anderson has the framework of a loan deal to Luton Town agreed, but the 19-year-old is being blocked from departing until signings arrive.

 

Will the result at Leeds affect further business?

 

It has the potential to, yes, because some agents have indicated that the failure to beat Watford has deterred players from joining. Should Newcastle lose at Leeds and results go against them, then the increased likelihood of relegation will prove damaging to their recruitment.

 

There is no indication, however, that Newcastle’s hierarchy will accept their fate, regardless of the result at Leeds, and instead appear set to continue pushing for reinforcements.

 

That may, though, mean taking more of a gamble when it comes to relegation release clauses and wage reductions in the event of demotion, to entice players to join.

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Dr.Spaceman

Dr.Spaceman

Posted
Posted
1 minute ago, Manxst said:

Interest in CM’s? Attempting to sign players for several positions simultaneously? Loan enquiries launched? Surely not - loads on here have said we’re doing none of those things…

 

Aye, and it's all Staveley's fault when the 'selling' clubs play hard ball.

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Kid Icarus

Kid Icarus

Posted
Posted

I mean they are still doing things that don't seem all that wise like. 

 

Quote

Wisely, Newcastle are pursuing parallel negotiations and their interest in Monaco’s Benoit Badiashile remains live, even if those discussions are also fraught with complications. The 20-year-old would prefer a move to a Champions League club and has also suffered an injury.


 

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Manxst

Manxst

Posted
Posted
1 minute ago, Kid Icarus said:

I mean they are still doing things that don't seem all that wise like. 

 


 

His injury is potentially fine in one or two weeks. Plus ‘prefers’ is infinitely more than acceptable over ‘would only move to a CL club’. Seems ok to me? 

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BeloEmre

BeloEmre

Posted
Posted
6 minutes ago, ToonScotman said:

There’s Watford just signed a decent winger from Bordeaux for 500k. 500 GRAND. Why are we that dumb not to be involved in these type of transfers.

One goal and one assist this season. Yeah, sounds like just what we need atm.

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Dokko

Dokko

Posted
Posted (edited)
3 minutes ago, toontownman said:

Except for the 2 we did. But otherwise I agree, it's hugely frustrating on the CB and CM front.

 

RB wasn't urgent and Wood doesn't address the striker issue. Considering its our soft centre and weak minded defender dropping us wins at alarming rates we've done next to fuck all to stop it. They've panicked and bought Wood for £25m yet they quibble over £6m in a position we're desperate for, £3.5m loan fee for a player who could get goals. Penny wish, pound foolish. Just like Ashley. Going down with this lot. They've had their chance to turn it around and blown it spectacularly.  

 

 

Edited by Dokko

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54

54

Posted
Posted
2 minutes ago, Dokko said:

 

RB wasn't urgent and Wood doesn't address the striker issue. Considering its our soft centre and weak minded defender dropping us wins at alarming rates we've done next to fuck all to stop it. They've panicked and bought Wood for £25m yet they quibble over £6m in a position we're desperate for, £3.5m loan fee for a player who could get goals. Penny wish, pound foolish. Just like Ashley. Going down with this lot. They've had their chance to turn it around and blown it spectacularly.  

 

 

 

"Just like Ashley" have a word with yourself like :lol: 

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Thiago

Thiago

Posted
Posted

You have to be careful though. We're only getting so many through the door and if you start just jumping at the first deal we may get to February 1 with a bunch of bad deals on our hands. Right now, I've set the clock on my judgement of the club's business as September 1.

 

That might sound ridiculous to many of you reading this, but the reason I say that is because we have two transfer windows at that point. The first, clearly truncated, presents a lot of moving parts and obstacles to navigate - least of all the ongoing games and results changing our needs in the market. That's incredibly difficult and why most successful teams don't do much incoming business in January but for a sprinkle of something extra.

 

Come the summer we'll know our fate, and we'll have several months to enact true sweeping changes including those at the top of the tree. We'll know who wants to stay, who wants to go, and we'll have no games to contend with. I also anticipate the market will have settled somewhat and most top players will want moves sorted early with a World Cup in mind that Christmas. That's not to say I don't anticipate mistakes, but if come September 1 we're still bemoaning squad frailties then I can start to question the decision makers. 

 

 

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Mountain

Mountain

Posted
Posted
3 minutes ago, Dokko said:

 

RB wasn't urgent and Wood doesn't address the striker issue. Considering its our soft centre and weak minded defender dropping us wins at alarming rates we've done next to fuck all to stop it. They've panicked and bought Wood for £25m yet they quibble over £6m in a position we're desperate for, £3.5m loan fee for a player who could get goals. Penny wish, pound foolish. Just like Ashley. Going down with this lot. They've had their chance to turn it around and blown it spectacularly.  

 

 

 

 

Personally I'm loving life right now and enjoying the roller coaster we are on. We're the richest club in the world by a mile and all will be groovy in due course.

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