Senior Newcastle figure reportedly says January has been ‘an absolute nightmare’

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Transfers have been few and far between for Newcastle United this month.

Despite being linked with every player under the sun, the Magpies have only completed two deals so far.

They’ve signed Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid, and activated Chris Wood’s release clause to bring him in from Burnley.

Under normal circumstances, that would be impressive. But this is a newly rich Newcastle United who desperately need new recruits to aid their Premier League survival bid.

The world is watching while Newcastle’s new owners struggle to get their top targets to St James’ Park. Whether it’s been negotiating with clubs or convincing players to come, there have been plenty of struggles this month.

Big targets such as Sven Botman and Diego Carlos have failed to arrive, while Jesse Lingard is being forced to stay at Man United despite a desire to move to the North East.

It’s been wildly frustrating, and the Telegraph’s Luke Edwards has given an insight into what Newcastle officials are saying behind the scenes.

Transfer failure causes tensions to rise at Newcastle

Edwards was speaking to BBC’s Transfer Gossip Daily podcast, and revealed what he’d been told by a senior figure at the club.

“It is chaotic at Newcastle. I think there is tension rising behind the scenes – I don’t think I’m melodramatic in saying that,” Edwards said.

“I spoke to one senior figure at the club and they actually said it’s been an absolute nightmare for them this month with clubs moving the goalposts on prices, agents leading them on, being linked to players they’ve never shown any interest at all.”

January was never going to be easy for the new Toon owners

In some respects, the January transfer window has been an absolute nightmare. But rather this than the kind of nightmare we’d grown accustom to during the Mike Ashley era.

So much has been made about Newcastle’s desperate need to sign players this month in order to avoid relegation. It’s almost been disrespectful to the current crop in black and white.

But everyone knows the Magpies’ immediate and future situation. Right now, they need players to survive. In the future, they want to challenge at the top. So it’s no surprise that other clubs are making it difficult for them.

And even without all of that, the January transfer window is notoriously difficult to do business in anyway. The Newcastle owners have landed in a dire situation and are being laughed at from some corners for not fixing it immediately.

It must be frustrating, especially when you look at the Carlos and Lingard situation. Other owners just aren’t playing ball with us. That would constitute ‘an absolute nightmare’.

But our signings so far have been sensible, and more will surely arrive before the month ends. It might be a nightmare now, but things will get better.