Newcastle United need to address what was a disastrous summer transfer window.
The Magpies made four new signings, but only one of them is likely to play regularly for Eddie Howe this season. That is Lloyd Kelly, who has started two Newcastle United games so far. In fact, Kelly was praised for his performance against Tottenham on Sunday.
After Kelly, Will Osula has arrived as a project player, while the other two arrivals were goalkeepers. John Ruddy adds experience, while Odysseas Vlachodimos could already be loaned out by Newcastle despite costing £20million from Nottingham Forest.
All the while, Newcastle failed to address their two main priorities. A right-sided centre-back did not arrive, and neither did a right winger. Newcastle pulled out of a deal to sign Marc Guehi due to Crystal Palace’s asking price, while a last-gasp bid for Anthony Elanga was rejected by Nottingham Forest.
Newcastle officials must not hang Eddie Howe out to dry
The Newcastle squad has not been improved, while Eddie Howe was left to face the media on Friday and field questions as the Magpies failed to do any serious business on deadline day.
Alan Shearer says sporting directors should have to speak out, rather than leaving it to the manager. After all, they are now the ones who are in charge of transfers. Most managers are just coaches now.
Shearer believes there is pressure on Paul Mitchell and Darren Eales after what happened this summer, and now supporters are eager to get answers from those at the top of the club. It was an unacceptable transfer window, and it has made Howe’s difficult job even more challenging.
Newcastle to address awful summer transfer window
Fortunately, the Toon Army could get their wish.
That is according to the Athletic’s George Caulkin, who has stated in a Q&A that the club plan to address what happened this summer and provide ‘clarity’ for supporters.
“I don’t think anybody at the club is particularly satisfied about what happened, or didn’t happen, during the transfer window and what’s important now is that the management team provide clarity for supporters, who have certainly done their bit this summer,” he wrote.
“That is the club’s plan, which is good. It’s not fair that Howe has to take the brunt of questions on matters of strategy that aren’t really his domain.”
In the same Q&A on the Athletic’s website, Caulkin also said: “Our understanding is that the club will address a disappointing transfer window soon.”
Newcastle fans deserve transparency
Answers are on the way, and that is exactly what Newcastle United fans deserve.
They have seen the club cash in on young players in Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to comply with PSR, while there was even a chance that Anthony Gordon could have gone.
From that moment, the summer did not get much better. Once the PSR deadline passed, the financial floodgates did not open.
Instead, Newcastle took their time to recalibrate, before ultimately failing to land their top targets.
The Marc Guehi saga was the biggest disappointment, as Newcastle committed so much time to bringing him in.
During a summer in which CEO Darren Eales has socialised with supporters as they pump money into the club, he has to come out and explain why Newcastle United failed to make any major signings.
When Amanda Staveley was the public face of the club, there was transparency. That needs to continue under Darren Eales, who has done his public perception no favours in recent months.
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