Newcastle United undoubtedly need to be active in the transfer market this summer.
The Magpies have secured their Premier League status for 2021/22, but realistically the club should be looking towards the top half at least.
There are some brilliant players at the club such as Allan Saint-Maximin, Callum Wilson, Martin Dubravka and Miguel Almiron.
But a number of incomings are needed, and preferably a change of manager – although that’s probably unlikely.
Apparently there isn’t much to spend this summer, meaning club officials will potentially be bargain-hunting.
It could be that a free agent or two will be on the agenda, and one man who is out of contract this summer is Ryan Bertrand.
The left-back will be leaving Southampton after signing for the Saints permanently in 2015 after an initial loan.
He’s clocked up 240 appearances for the club so far, and has been a great servant for them.
Newcastle should consider swoop
Jamal Lewis has struggled in his first season at St. James’ Park and eventually lost his starting berth to Matt Ritchie.
It would be no surprise to see him loaned out next term in order to regain some confidence and build momentum.
Ritchie’s future is supposedly up in the air still, despite the major impact he’s had on the starting XI in recent weeks.
Ultimately there could well be a need for Newcastle to bring in another left-back this summer.
£70,000-a-week star Bertrand (Spotrac) may be 31 now, but he remains a decent player. Obviously he is no longer as good as a couple of years ago, but he would boost a lot of Premier League squads ahead of the 2021/22 campaign, including Newcastle’s.
A quick search of his name on social media shows the disappointment from lots of Saints fans, which tells you all you need to know.
Newcastle should be on hand to snap him up in what would be a shrewd bit of business.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
