Newcastle United smashed their transfer record with the signing of Brazilian striker Joelinton yesterday, but unhappy Toon fans can’t help but feel the transfer is one big ploy.
The Toon’s new number nine was signed from German club Hoffenheim and is believed to have cost Newcastle £40m, almost twice as much as Miguel Almiron’s record fee in January.
Had you told Newcastle fans last year that they would smash their transfer record twice in the next two windows, they would have been ecstatic.
But it’s a sign of the times that such a huge transfer for the club has instead been met with so much cynicism.
After a nightmare summer in which Newcastle have lost Rafa Benitez, Ayoze Perez and neglected to sign Salomon Rondon, fans have been in uproar.
Another rumoured takeover which has yet again fizzled out has only added to the frustrations and some fans want rid of current owner Mike Ashley more than ever.
Planned boycotts for the first game of the season are still in the works, and a large section of supporters have cancelled season tickets.
That’s almost 30% of the club’s usual 42,000 season tickets sales.
This is almost certainly a section of supporters who believe the only way to be rid of Ashley is to hit him in his pocket.
Most anger towards Ashley comes from his lack of spending in transfer windows, which has seen Newcastle struggle for Premier League survival in recent seasons.
So after three seasons in which Rafa Benitez received little backing in the transfer market, fans are naturally suspicious that Steve Bruce has instantly been handed a huge transfer kitty.
Many are claiming that low season ticket figures have forced the owner’s hand, and that the Joelinton signing is not a display of intent, but merely a short term appeasement for the unrest.
Newcastle fans on Joelinton signing
https://twitter.com/MusetteChef/status/1153747597963800576
https://twitter.com/MikeAshleyHater/status/1153834363252961280
https://twitter.com/translatanator/status/1153749688564232192
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