There’s a worrying theme throughout Newcastle’s transfer targets

Add as preferred source on Google

As the end of the transfer window edges closer, Newcastle are frantically trying to sign the players they should have brought in weeks ago.

It’s been another summer of chaos on Tyneside. From a takeover saga to the Rafa Benitez shambles to struggling to appoint Steve Bruce, it’s been a needless race against time to be ready for the new Premier League season.

As it stands, the only first-team player we’ve signed is Joelinton. When you consider who we’ve lost, that’s not enough.

Every Newcastle transfer target seems like a risk

But after lengthy negotiations, it seems as if Allan Saint-Maximin will become a Magpie too. He’s an exciting player, but is certainly a risk. But then again, so are the majority of our transfer targets.

We are reportedly close to signing French defender Moussa Sissako, whose name is somewhat funny… Then there’s Stanley Nsoki, who Newcastle have been pursuing as well. Both are young players with stacks of potential, but minimal first-team experience. And that first-team experience isn’t in England.

None of the players we want have Premier League experience. We are taking a massive risk with these players, as there’s no guarantee they’ll settle or be up for the fight of a potential relegation battle.

And it’s a mistake we’ve made before with catastrophic consequences.

This is why Benitez wanted more control over transfers. He wanted certain players to fit certain roles, whereas now we’re back to the manager just being handed players who didn’t cost much but might be worth a lot more in the future.

It’s not about the football, it’s about the money.

The players we sign might prove to be Premier League quality, but that’s not guaranteed. It’s a massive risk Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley are taking, not that that’s ever mattered…