A big summer will surely be required at Newcastle United.
This season, for oh so many reasons, has proven arduous.
While the injury crisis Newcastle have endured for most of the season cannot be ignored, recruitment issues from last summer have not made things easy.
The Sandro Tonali signing has so far been a disaster, while Harvey Barnes has seen his start to life at St James’ Park seriously impacted by injuries. Lewis Hall, meanwhile, is not yet deemed ready enough defensively to deal with regular Premier League action.
In fact, Tino Livramento is the only signing to have actually improved the first-team thus far.
The man who oversaw those additions – a certain Dan Ashworth – has left the club, too.
Though names such as Paolo Maldini have been touted as potential replacements on the sporting director front, it seems Newcastle have decided who will oversee this summer’s business.
Newcastle decide on interim sporting director ahead of summer transfer window
Indeed, according to The Daily Mail, the club are happy with Steve Nickson overseeing matters.
It is claimed both Newcastle and Manchester United (the club waiting to employ Ashworth) are planning for this summer’s transfer window without a sporting director.
At this stage, both clubs are refusing to compromise in their stance over Ashworth. Newcastle will not lower their asking price for compensation – believed to be in the region of £20m – while the Old Trafford giants will not pay it.
Steve Nickson has already impressed people at St James’ Park
Nickson has certainly made an impact at the club.
Earlier this month, journalist Dean Jones suggested the club were considering handing him a promotion, such was the impact he’d made when getting deals for the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Kieran Trippier and Allan Saint-Maximin signed off.
Given the successes of those additions, it’s of little surprise the club would feel confident in Nickson.
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