NUFC Transfer Rumours

[toon25]

This summer has been far more than a disappointment from the perspective of the old order re-establishing itself.

 

Absolutely everything has gone in the favour of the cartel. Everything. From Chelsea spaffing 2 billion quid to win that shithole cup, to Liverpool tapping up players through the media, to a 15th-placed team spending close to a quarter of a billion on strikers.

 

It's in proper 'whats the fucking point' territory for me - and not because we've got our own faults as a club, but because there just seems no way whatsoever of breaking through.

 

 

Edited August 7, 2025 by toon25

[Andy84]

5 minutes ago, toon25 said:

This summer has been far more than a disappointment from the perspective of the old order re-establishing itself.

 

Absolutely everything has gone in the favour of the cartel. Everything. From Chelsea staffing 2 billion quid to win that shithole cup, to Liverpool tapping up players through the media, to a 15th-placed team spending close to a quarter of a billion on strikers.

 

It's in proper 'whats the fucking point' territory for me - and not because we've got our own faults as a club, but because there just seems no way whatsoever of breaking through.

This.

 

We went into that second last game with Arsenal with a chance of finishing second as well.  We’ve got  an amazing manager and a really good team.  We needed a good window, not stellar but enough to help the manager and these lads out.  Quality in key areas, but no. It’s a shame and I still can’t get my head around what is unfolding in front of our eyes. 

 

 

Edited August 7, 2025 by Andy84

[magorific]

48 minutes ago, kingxlnc said:

To be fair to PIF, the appointments have been high profile and to coin a INEOS phrase 'best in class'. 
Dan Ashworth - huge reputation for being the best out there

Paul Mitchell everyone was over the moon that he agreed - he had said no to Man Utd previously
Even Darren Eales had a great rep for buiilding Atlanta from the ground up into champions 

All had pedigree to be fair - no-one could have guessed it would have been like this 

Had the club spoken to people at the clubs that Ashworth and Mitchell had recently worked for (eg Brighton and Tottenham), they’d have got a very different insight into both of them.

Neither was particularly liked or rated at either club. 

[Kid Icarus]

Tbf we did ask for a transformative transfer window.

[Disco]

What the frequency is going on here?

[Danh1]

6 hours ago, Skeletor said:

 

https://archive.ph/stKvv

Muniz would be such a pathetic signing. Glad it’s gone quiet. 

[duo]

What happened to the links to Samu Aghehowa? 

[Boey_Jarton]

45 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Football clubs are not a pension fund business. 
 

To get to the top of the game like Yasir has said - you cannot run NUFC like a pension fund. 
 

Crystal Palace, to Forest, to Spurs, to fucking Real Madrid - none of these clubs are ran like pension funds. All of them have active CHAIRMAN. Was the day after our sale, Daniel Levy emailed the premier league to push through the APT rule changes. Forests owners are doing so many dodgy transfers and personally breaking contractual release clauses with players and forcing them to stay a further year.  Florentino Perez has been waging war with UEFA for at least half a decade in an attempt to preserve Real Madrid as the dominant force in European football.  
 

This is what Chairman’s of football clubs need to do to survive and thrive. We aren’t beating Daniel Levy with hands off owners. 

 

 

 

I was in no way suggesting that a football club should be run like a pension fund or a sovereign wealth fund. 

[toontownman]

4 minutes ago, duo said:

What happened to the links to Samu Aghehowa? 

Preference is PL experience. 

 

Samu was never seriously linked was he?

[duo]

1 minute ago, toontownman said:

Preference is PL experience. 

 

Samu was never seriously linked was he?

Surely be on the list if Sesko was - bags of potential

[Erikse]

5 minutes ago, duo said:

Surely be on the list if Sesko was - bags of potential

 

A bagsman? Count me in.

 

 

Edited August 7, 2025 by Erikse

[wong989]

2 hours ago, duo said:

What happened to the links to Samu Aghehowa? 

I think a highlights package can’t tell you if a lad is a good bet, but it can tell yiu if he’s a bad bet…Samu does not look like he’d suit a top prem club, doesn’t look technically good enough or quick in thought, but that’s my take on a 5 min reel, weakest out the those I’ve seen linked in any position

[Emotic]

We've not been actively linked with Samu, iirc. Mentioned before that he reminds me very much of Taiwo Awoniyi at Forest, not technical enough for Eddie Howe and probably not good enough to justify his apparent 100 million Euro release clause (we were also linked with Awoniyi when he was scoring for fun at Union Berlin. Ever since, he has scored 17 in 72 matches for Forest). To our credit (although it has failed quite miserably), we've been attempting to sign strikers who are as "ready-made" for the PL as possible. But we found out to our surprise that sometimes, a Cup win, a fifth place, and a Champions League slot doesn't have quite the same pull when your competitors are Liverpool, Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal.

 

I truly believe that our Tier 1 striker "list" was Pedro, Delap, Ekitike and at the bottom, in brackets, was Sesko. A seperate Tier 2 list to replace Wilson probably also, with Wissa and maybe Muniz. We've probably exhausted Tier 1 possibilities which wouldn't have been so bad if not for the Isak fiasco. And now we have to frantically regroup with three weeks left and without a recognised striker entering into the new season.

 

It has become increasingly difficult, so a decision has to be made whether or not to just force Isak to stay and just spend on a Wilson replacement. Imagine a top-class striker being approached this late in the window, knowing that he'd be our fifth to sixth choice in the list. Imagine a selling club, this late in the window, knowing our desperation, and having no time to find a replacement. Logistically, it gets worse with each passing day. And don't forget we are suffering from not having a top-class negotiator who has the relationships with agents and clubs to make deals happen. The fanbase is only finding out just now.

 

Isak staying, signing Wissa (not a given), and pursuing a CB and CM should be our path forward now. Everything else will be snubbed or us paying silly money for players we never prioritised. Get a CEO and Sporting Director with chops, and get some management structure in, consult with "Suds" Gopaladeskian, go again in January if Eddie can pull a miracle and have us competing by then.

[LaurentRobert]

I don't know about you, but I've completely tuned out of consuming any sort of football podcasts/YouTube/news content this week. The Sky 6 circle jerk is at an all time high and I can't be bothered with it at all. 

 

I also have zero interest in getting invested in a transfer saga involving us and Nicolas Jackson. 

[r0cafella]

3 minutes ago, LaurentRobert said:

I don't know about you, but I've completely tuned out of consuming any sort of football podcasts/YouTube/news content this week. The Sky 6 circle jerk is at an all time high and I can't be bothered with it at all. 

 

I also have zero interest in getting invested in a transfer saga involving us and Nicolas Jackson. 

Only football stuff I'm consuming ATM is NO and maybe some Newcastle specific podcast when I'm working. 

 

But this place will always reign supreme. 

[Jewel]

4 hours ago, Danh1 said:

Muniz would be such a pathetic signing. Glad it’s gone quiet. 

I'd rather we save our money and keep our powder dry than overpay for average shite like Muniz just so we can get some bodies through the door.

 

I wouldn't say no to Jack Grealish on loan, provided Citeh pay at least 50% of his wages.

[Mattoon]

They all got what they wanted this summer, the cartel, super sly 6 and the PL, they unsettled our game changer and stifled our growth, they've driven us back and neutered us in the transfer window possibly unsettling other star players too.

 

It's been totally dispiriting, depressing and disorganised. But, it's just a blip, they can slow us down, they can damage our growth and steal a march but they can't stop us, we are inevitable. Now is the time to rally round, seige mentality, us vs them. Strengthen how we can, don't overspend on crap, get what we need to see us through until January, get the management structure in place, use this experience as a learning curve and go hard again when we've highlighted stronger players to take us forward.

 

They've all blown their load to bring in our top targets and we still have the cash ready to go. I hope the Saudis take this personally, the rejections, the sly underhanded, strong arm tactics and learn from it. Let's get some big wins while we can, keep our prized asset for a little longer and get back on track for the beginning of a tough season.

[r0cafella]

1 minute ago, Mattoon said:

They all got what they wanted this summer, the cartel, super sly 6 and the PL, they unsettled our game changer and stifled our growth, they've driven us back and neutered us in the transfer window possibly unsettling other star players too.

 

It's been totally dispiriting, depressing and disorganised. But, it's just a blip, they can slow us down, they can damage our growth and steal a march but they can't stop us, we are inevitable. Now is the time to rally round, seige mentality, us vs them. Strengthen how we can, don't overspend on crap, get what we need to see us through until January, get the management structure in place, use this experience as a learning curve and go hard again when we've highlighted stronger players to take us forward.

 

They've all blown their load to bring in our top targets and we still have the cash ready to go. I hope the Saudis take this personally, the rejections, the sly underhanded, strong arm tactics and learn from it. Let's get some big wins while we can, keep our prized asset for a little longer and get back on track for the beginning of a tough season.

Sorry to ask but why do you think it's a blip? 

 

Or allow me to ask, what are your expectations for the club under our current ownership?

[r0cafella]

Spoiler

Newcastle United’s summer has been a disappointing exercise for all involved but there is still time to salvage it.

 

The Athletic reported on Thursday that Benjamin Sesko is set to join Manchester United, marking another target missed for Eddie Howe’s side this transfer window. A new striker remains on the agenda even if Alexander Isak stays amid interest from Liverpool.

 

Most clubs have already bolstered their front lines this summer, with Viktor Gyokeres, Liam Delap and Victor Osimhen making big-money moves. But there are still three weeks left before September’s transfer deadline, so The Athletic looked at five strikers Newcastle could sign.

 

As an early note, the list below does not include Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, who Newcastle have followed for some time now. Regardless of Isak’s future, Wissa is a necessary addition to add versatility to a front line that was already thin and has lost Callum Wilson this summer. If Isak leaves, the hunt for Wissa would be separate from any other striker coming in.

 

Wissa has developed excellent penalty-box instincts at Brentford, scoring 19 league goals last season with an expected goals (xG) per shot figure of 0.21, which only trails Erling Haaland. His greatest attribute is his out-of-possession work. Wissa is excellent at leading the press and is a relentless runner in the final third, dragging defenders out of position and opening up pockets of space for his creative team-mates to excel.

 

The first name worth considering is Nicolas Jackson at Chelsea. His sprints in behind are his main weapon. As his SkillCorner off-the-ball runs chart below shows, the 24-year-old thrives when playing on the last defender’s shoulder (a rating of 83 out of 99 for ‘Runs in behind’). He also gets into ideal positions to meet cutbacks in the box, even if his finishing and shooting technique require more refinement.

 

 

 

Jackson would provide Newcastle with options. If played alongside Isak, his work out of possession would benefit the Sweden international, as Jackson keeps defenders on their toes with his movement. If Isak is to depart, Jackson has shown at Chelsea that he can handle the pressure of leading the line for a top-four challenger, though his finishing can be frustrating.

 

If Newcastle’s brief is for efficiency in front of goal, look no further than Jorgen Strand Larsen. Wolves sealed the 25-year-old on a permanent deal from Celta Vigo this summer after impressing on loan last season.

 

Strand Larsen is an old-fashioned No 9 who is not actively involved in build-up play but simply attacks the box and finds the back of the net. He scored 14 league goals last season from just 54 shots, 61 per cent of which were on target. Only two of his shots were from outside the penalty box — and incidentally, both ended in goals (below).

 

 

 

Strand Larsen’s towering frame (193cm/6ft 4in) means he can fit into a direct style too, while his long strides make him a threat on the break. Given the talent Newcastle have out wide in Jacob Murphy, Anthony Gordon, and Harvey Barnes, the Norway international would flourish on Tyneside.

 

Standing at the same height is Samu Aghehowa, who racked up 27 goals in 45 matches for Porto last season, including eight in 12 games across the Europa League and Club World Cup.

 

Aghehowa offers more runs in behind, aerial prowess and physicality than Strand Larsen, and the 21-year-old’s link-up play improved throughout the season. Those goals came in different forms, too — unstoppable strikes inside the box, smart headers from open play and set pieces, and composed finishing from counter-attacks.

 

Below in the 2-0 league win against Casa Pia, Aghehowa plays a simple one-two to get in behind on the counter before finishing the move off with a clinical strike. The goal is a microcosm of his best qualities.

 

 

 

And for this goal in the 3-3 draw against Manchester United in the Europa League, he shows great box instincts to meet the cross ahead of Matthijs de Ligt by stooping mid-jump and directing a strong header into the net.

 

 

 

Aghehowa’s shooting can be wayward — only 37 per cent of his efforts were on target in the Primeira Liga last season — but his skill set should translate well to the Premier League, which is becoming increasingly chaotic.

 

In France, Goncalo Ramos is another interesting candidate Newcastle should turn to.

 

Ramos was a €65million (£56m; $76m at current rates) — plus €15m in add-ons — acquisition for Paris Saint-Germain after an excellent 2022-23 season for club and country. But with Ousmane Dembele fitting better into Luis Enrique’s tactical demands at centre-forward, he was limited to just 18 starts across all competitions in 2024-25.

 

Ramos still scored 19 goals, averaging a goal every 95 minutes. The 24-year-old, while prone to the occasional casual or overconfident shot, is a skilled finisher and his shots averaged an xG figure of 0.22 in Ligue 1 last season, suggesting his penalty-box instincts are intact.

 

He excels at delaying his runs to nip in front of defenders at the very last second to meet cutbacks, with a bunch of his goals being headers or first-time finishes with either foot from balls into the box.

 

Ramos is not heavily involved in link-up play, preferring to play straightforward short passes while dropping deep, but he has great close control. In the example below, he hauls down a lofted pass from goalkeeper Arnau Tenas and holds off two defenders before unleashing a shot to complete his hat-trick in a 4-1 win against Montpellier.

 

 

 

Ramos is energetic out of possession, constantly looking to force mistakes from defenders, which should add an extra edge to Newcastle’s pressing structure.

 

PSG team-mate Randal Kolo Muani rounds out this list.

 

Kolo Muani spent the second half of last season with Juventus, scoring 10 goals in 22 matches. He broke through at Eintracht Frankfurt, contributing 23 goals and 17 assists in 46 games in the 2022-23 campaign.

 

Kolo Muani is fantastic in transition thanks to his close control at speed and willingness to operate across the attacking third, no matter what his nominal position is. While not a typical target man, the 26-year-old positions himself well to meet cutbacks and at 187cm, he regularly leaps above defenders to attack crosses too.

 

Kolo Muani’s best football has come when he has played with confidence, which is tough to develop without regular game time. PSG, who paid €95million to sign him from Eintracht in the summer of 2023, started him just 23 times in one and a half years.

 

A change of scenario helped him this year, with Kolo Muani scoring five times in his first three games for Juventus. One of those goals against Como displayed the threat he brings with his runs into the wide channels. Kolo Muani drifts over to the right and is slipped in by Nicolas Gonzalez. The France international carries the ball into the box, taking multiple touches with either foot to get past a defender, before scoring with a powerful strike from a narrow angle.

 

 

 

Another goal against Lazio in May saw him move more like an archetypal centre-forward. Lazio defender Alessio Romagnoli initially looks over his shoulder to monitor the situation as the move develops on the left. Kolo Muani initially feigns a run to the front of Romagnoli, which sees the centre-back take a step forward. Before Romagnoli can realise and react, Kolo Muani sprints behind him to meet Weston McKennie’s cross.

 

 

 

Kolo Muani has seen his career stall in recent years, and he has not proved his mettle against well-set defences that do not give him freedom to operate. But he is a skilled and versatile operator who, when confident, can score regularly.

 

[Ben]

5 hours ago, toon25 said:

This summer has been far more than a disappointment from the perspective of the old order re-establishing itself.

 

Absolutely everything has gone in the favour of the cartel. Everything. From Chelsea spaffing 2 billion quid to win that shithole cup, to Liverpool tapping up players through the media, to a 15th-placed team spending close to a quarter of a billion on strikers.

 

It's in proper 'whats the fucking point' territory for me - and not because we've got our own faults as a club, but because there just seems no way whatsoever of breaking through.

 

 

 

 

If Man Utd go and spend another £100 million on a midfielder then that should be the firing pistol for us to splend some serious cash, problem is I dont think anyone at the club apart from Howe has the desire to challenge.

 

We need another Yasir interview so he can explain his new direction for the club.

 

"Number 7, we dream to be number 7"

[Mattoon]

30 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

Sorry to ask but why do you think it's a blip? 

 

Or allow me to ask, what are your expectations for the club under our current ownership?

 

It's a blip because we are a rudderless ship, we've got no upper management stricture and clubs have taken advantage of our lack of leadership. We need to make the right appointments this time and connect team to club to ownership.

 

We have to continue to grow at our own speed, all I expect from our ownership is for them to put competent people in charge and allow them the tools to craft us on and off the pitch to mount a challenge to the status quo.

[r0cafella]

2 minutes ago, Mattoon said:

 

It's a blip because we are a rudderless ship, we've got no upper management stricture and clubs have taken advantage of our lack of leadership. We need to make the right appointments this time and connect team to club to ownership.

 

We have to continue to grow at our own speed, all I expect from our ownership is for them to put competent people in charge and allow them the tools to craft us on and off the pitch to mount a challenge to the status quo.

Yeah this is what I hear from A lot of folks understandably, it doesn't quite add up to me though. 

 

Financially we have to grow at a rate which is leading to the gap between us and them this isn't really happening so we are kind of in a best of the rest position. League position will obviously have a degree of variance so on our current path (spending up to ffp limits without pushing them) means we yoyo between Europe some years and years not with our top players being plucked away annually. 

[Geordie Ahmed]

55 minutes ago, Jewel said:

I'd rather we save our money and keep our powder dry than overpay for average shite like Muniz just so we can get some bodies through the door.

 

I wouldn't say no to Jack Grealish on loan, provided Citeh pay at least 50% of his wages.

 

Keeping our power dry in our situation would be asking for trouble

 

Not usually a fan of just getting anyone in but we need bodies in

 

As things stand the only fit striker we have is Osula and he's nowhere near ready 

 

With all the extra games, only Osula and Gordon out of position is a recipe for absolute disaster 

 

Overpaying is a necessary evil

[Mattoon]

8 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

Yeah this is what I hear from A lot of folks understandably, it doesn't quite add up to me though. 

 

Financially we have to grow at a rate which is leading to the gap between us and them this isn't really happening so we are kind of in a best of the rest position. League position will obviously have a degree of variance so on our current path (spending up to ffp limits without pushing them) means we yoyo between Europe some years and years not with our top players being plucked away annually. 

 

I agree, the cartel continue to grow off the pitch so we need to accelerate our growth to make any sort of headway or we'll always be two steps behind. I believe that lack of financial structure is due to bad management which is why its imperative that we make the right appointments. The support from pif is there if we have the right direction supplied by actual football people with the right connections and understanding of the business.

[r0cafella]

Just now, Mattoon said:

 

I agree, the cartel continue to grow off the pitch so we need to accelerate our growth to make any sort of headway or we'll always be two steps behind. I believe that lack of financial structure is due to bad management which is why its imperative that we make the right appointments. The support from pif is there if we have the right direction supplied by actual football people with the right connections and understanding of the business.

Yeah I hear you man, I'm just not convinced it's going to be the game changer we hope. We need PIF to do a lot of heavy lifting if they wish to compete with the cartel and I'm just not seeing that as realistic at this stage. If it was why have they been phoning it? And they've been phoning it In for a long time now. 4 years to find a bit of grass to build a training ground and they still haven't found a bit of grass?