It was a decent summer for Newcastle United in terms of incoming transfers but if you asked fans there’s still a couple of positions that need strengthening.
One position that looked like a no-brainer for upgrading was centre-back. Sven Botman and Fabian Schar were phenomenal last season and have struck up a rock solid partnership at the back for Newcastle.
However, if one of those two is missing it’s absolute chaos at the back. Jamaal Lascelles is the direct back-up for Fabian Schar while Dan Burn or Paul Dummett can fill in for Botman.
Danny Murphy feels someone got it wrong at Newcastle
There’s definitely a lack of quality in those back-up options, with all due respect to the aforementioned players, but it’s not really a hot take to say Newcastle should have better option.
After pointing out that Dan Burn is not the answer, Danny Murphy told the Vibe With FIVE podcast: “Someone in recruitment at Newcastle has got that wrong, they needed a centre-half. I think that was their main priority.”
While ‘main priority’ may not be right as there was a strong case for the midfield reinforcements that were brought in, but it was definitely priority enough that it should have been addressed before the window shut.
Newcastle’s reluctance to buy a centre-back could haunt them
Newcastle’s worst fears were realised when Sven Botman limped off the field against Liverpool and then after the game against Brighton Fabian Schar pulled out of international duty with a knock.
Both are on coarse for being fit for the visit of Brentford next Saturday, but it was a very close call to having two Mike Ashley relics lining for Eddie Howe in Lascelles and Dummett.
Now Eddie Howe will have to wait until January to bring in extra cover. Hopefully there’ll be no more close calls like this one between now and then.
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