Newcastle United need to learn lessons from this summer’s transfer window.
Clearly, it’s not all been bad. Newcastle United have ended the window with six signings and boast a much deeper squad than they did last season.
However, it would be foolish to forget just how chaotic this summer has been at times. Newcastle have missed out on some key targets and have sold star turn Alexander Isak to Liverpool for less than the £150million they were reportedly asking for.
One of the most exciting nights for Newcastle supporters on social media was arguably when news of their plans to sign Hugo Ekitike and play him alongside Isak for a season. Both of those players now play for Liverpool.
Indeed, it’s been a bruising few months for the club and their supporters. With that in mind, Geordie Boot Boys looks at three major mistakes.
Not selling Alexander Isak quickly
According to The Daily Telegraph, Liverpool would have paid around £125-£130million (there is some debate over the exact transfer fee) long before deadline day.
If that’s the case, Newcastle could have saved themselves a lot of hassle. If they were never going to get the huge fee they really wanted, was ruining the first three games of the season really worth it?
Obviously, it’s easy to be wise after the event. However, reintegrating Isak always looked like a hugely difficult task, so getting clarity as quickly as possible would have been wise.
James Trafford delay
Newcastle missed out on James Trafford, who eventually joined Manchester City from Burnley.
The Etihad giants did have a buy-back clause but, back in July, David Ornstein of The Athletic revealed that Newcastle did have the chance to beat City to the punch.
Aaron Ramsdale might prove to be a fine addition to the Newcastle United squad but Trafford is much younger, and potentially has a higher ceiling.
Inaction cost Newcastle here. They tracked Trafford for two summers, so were clearly keen.
That was a bitter pill to swallow.
A void at executive level
Newcastle still do not have a sporting director or a CEO. Though the team in place on Tyneside have done well to get their deals over the line, that is hardly ideal.
Heading into a transfer window in which they appear to have known their star player wanted to leave would have been hard enough. To do that without a sporting director or CEO seems negligent.
Newcastle cannot be in this position again. They’ve now had two summers without a sporting director really being in place, which is hardly in keeping with the trends among big clubs.
Lessons must be learnt.
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