It is hard to believe that Newcastle United have not made a major signing with just over a week to go before the summer transfer window closes.
There was never going to be a huge turnover of players at St James’ Park during the summer of 2024, but some big changes were anticipated.
At the start of the transfer window, it was reported that Eddie Howe wants players that can take Newcastle to the next level. That is yet to happen, with Newcastle United yet to address their two top priorities.
Newcastle’s two summer transfer priorities remain unaddressed
All summer, Newcastle have wanted a right-sided centre-back and a right winger. Neither have arrived, and it remains to be seen who could fill those positions.
Howe wanted Newcastle to sign Michael Olise to play on the right, but he was unattainable. The Frenchman has signed for Bayern Munich instead, where he will get to play in the Champions League.
At the back, Newcastle’s top target is Marc Guehi. However, a deal for the 24-year-old is proving to be extremely difficult, and Newcastle will walk away from the Guehi transfer if it is not agreed before this weekend.
Alternatives are lined up, with Newcastle in talks with Bayer Leverkusen regarding Edmond Tapsoba. Axel Disasi is also a target, with the 26-year-old potentially allowed to leave Chelsea just a year after arriving from Monaco.
Elsewhere, Trevoh Chalobah has been mentioned as a Toon target, and he is another player who does not appear to have a future at Stamford Bridge.
There has also been talk of a move for Liverpool’s Joe Gomez, who could be on his way out of Anfield. Gomez nearly joined Newcastle earlier this summer, with Anthony Gordon going the other way. Fortunately that deal collapsed.
Newcastle linked with players who are not good enough for their Premier League rivals
At the time, Newcastle were going to pay £45million for Gomez. You would assume his asking price has not changed too much since the talks with Liverpool earlier in the summer, and that would represent a real overspend for a player who has struggled to get into the Reds’ team for a few years now.
Alternatively, Disasi was far from outstanding at Chelsea during his debut year in the Premier League. As for Chalobah, he has been completely axed from Chelsea’s first-team squad.
Yet they are three players that are on Newcastle’s radar heading into the dying embers of the summer transfer market. If any one of those players arrived, they would not be inspiring additions. They would not be viewed as players that can take Newcastle to the next level. They are not good enough for Liverpool or Chelsea, and they are clubs that the Magpies are trying to compete with and overtake.
Disasi, Chalobah or Gomez would fill the centre-back hole in Eddie Howe’s squad, but they would not be game-changing signings. You could argue that none of them improve the Magpies’ starting XI.
Newcastle must not panic buy
And that is what Toon officials must remind themselves as they navigate an extremely tricky end to the summer transfer window. While time is running out, panic must not set in.
Newcastle must not sign someone just for the sake of it. If a player does not completely fit the profile of what they are looking for then they must not sign them.
If they do, it could have long-term implications at St James’ Park. If they do not perform, they will probably need to be replaced and moved on, and that could be difficult from a financial perspective. PSR continues to be a problem for Newcastle, and that is why it is pivotal that the Magpies get their recruitment right. One mistake could prove to be a major setback.
There is still time for Newcastle to do business, and the hope is that two players will arrive at St James’ Park. But it should not be a simple case of ‘just any two players’. They have to be the right players – ones who improve Eddie Howe’s team, suit his system and fit in with the group in terms of their character.
Since the change of ownership, Newcastle have never panicked in the transfer window. They have always held their nerve and been better for it.
That has to be the case again this summer, despite Paul Mitchell’s recruitment struggles.
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