Newcastle United sporting director Paul Mitchell has a series of big decisions to make regarding youth moves in the summer.
It has already been a busy first few months for Paul Mitchell since joining Newcastle United last July. From a recruitment perspective, a lot has changed since his arrival.
Newcastle now prioritises singing young players over established talents in an attempt to beat the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules and find hidden gems from all around Europe. It was recently revealed that Mitchell will recruit from Ireland more often after welcoming 18-year-old Kyle Fitzgerald to the club in January. The striker followed in the footsteps of Alex Murphy, who also moved from League of Ireland side Galway United to Newcastle.
Mitchell also signed Turkish midfielder Baran Yildiz from the country’s second-division side Genclerbirligi. The 18-year-old is yet to make his debut for Newcastle’s academy but has watched on from the stands at recent games.
Newcastle must now make decisions for what they want to do with their existing talent. Mitchell may have an easy decision to make with one star who was sensational for Newcastle’s under-21s on Friday night.
Alfie Harrison impresses as Paul Mitchell watches on
Alfie Harrison signed for Newcastle from Manchester City in January 2024 for a reported fee of £3.5m. The 19-year-old endured a slow start to life at his new club before finding form this season thanks to the tutelage of new under-21s head coach Diarmuid O’Carroll, who took over from Ben Dawson when he left for Leicester last year.
Harrison was spotted in Newcastle’s first-team training in March 2024, just two months after joining the club. He won his first silverware with the Magpies last season, helping them lift the Northumberland Senior Cup in May.
Now, Harrison is still playing for the under-21s but is showing signs that he can play for the first team in the near future. Mitchell was in attendance for the under-21s win against Stoke City on Friday night, in which Harrison scored a brace and bagged an assist in, taking his overall goal contributions to seven for the season.
He lived up to his ‘Erling Haaland 2.0’ title (The Chronicle) with the goals, even though he played as a central midfielder on this occasion. Last summer, it was believed that Newcastle would loan Harrison out for the season. However, Mitchell may now look to persuade Howe to include him in the first-team picture for the run-in to the end of the season.
Eddie Howe will love Alfie Harrison’s special trait
Earlier this season, there were suggestions that Harrison could play in the FA Cup for Newcastle after the Magpies drew League Two side, Bromley. He wouldn’t feature, but his teammate Trevan Sanusi would.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is a fan of players who can play in multiple positions. For example, Emil Krafth signed a new contract because of his ability to play in multiple areas of the back four.
Harrison is a player that possesses the same quality, in more of an attacking sense. Although predominantly an attacking midfielder, Harrison has played as a central midfielder, right winger and right midfielder for the under-21s this season.
Newcastle need a new right winger after Miguel Almiron left the club in January, Harrison could easily slot in that position if there is a desperate need for bodies before the end of the season.
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