Newcastle United have held talks with the agent of Christian Eriksen to discuss Eddie Howe’s interest in the midfielder, so how did the last eight free agents to join the Magpies perform at St James’ Park?
Eriksen will hit the market unattached in July, having only signed a short-term contract when joining Brentford in January. The Bees awarded him a six month deal for the 30-year-old’s return to the field after Inter Milan terminated his terms because of the ICD he had fitted for collapsing at Euro 2020.
The 115-cap Denmark maestro had not featured since his country’s tie with Finland last June before facing Newcastle this February. Eriksen would go on to start 10 of his 11 appearances with Brentford and offered one goal plus four assists, while also making a goalscoring international return in March.
Newcastle are interested in Christian Eriksen but trail Manchester United and Tottenham
Eriksen’s efforts with Brentford piqued Newcastle’s interest in a potential free transfer over the off-season and Howe remains keen. The Northern Echo report Magpies chiefs view the midfielder as a potentially exciting addition after rejecting a new deal with the Bees, believing it is time to move on.
The Toon’s recruitment team have been in touch with Eriksen’s representatives to sound out if the Middelfart native would be open to moving to Tyneside. But the St James’ hierarchy accept the club may need to outbid some big competition, while his wage demands are also likely to be substantial.
Manchester United and his former side Tottenham Hotspur have both held more tangible talks with Eriksen’s camp over his transfer. Erik ten Hag is keen to take him to Old Trafford with Paul Pogba and Juan Mata leaving, while the Dane played under Spurs manager Antonio Conte whilst at Inter Milan.
Newcastle have not given up on pursuing Eriksen yet, but accept Manchester United and Tottenham’s interest makes them favourites. Magpies chiefs additionally plan to hold face-to-face talks with the midfielder to plot out where Howe envisages him fitting in at St James’ should Eriksen agree to join.
Eriksen already has an offer on the table from Manchester United, though, per The Athletic. So, the Magpies may need to expediate the club’s timeline for talks if Howe is to sign the maestro in a free transfer. And Howe would hope Eriksen performs better than some of the club’s last free signings…
Ryan Fraser last free agent to join Newcastle amid interest in Christian Eriksen
Ryan Fraser is the last free agent to join Newcastle, as Howe explores his interest in signing Eriksen this summer. Steve Bruce convinced the Scotland forward to move to St James’ on a five-year deal in September 2020 after his contract with Bournemouth, under Howe, had expired earlier in the year.
Bruce could not get the best out of the 28-year-old during their time together on Tyneside, though. But a reunion with Howe in November helped to see the 22-cap Tartan Army dynamo begin to find his feet, resulting in some promising displays by running himself into the ground to make things tick.
Eddie Howe has already axed Jeff Hendrick once since replacing Steve Bruce
Bruce added Jeff Hendrick to his United side in August 2020 after leaving Burnley as a free agent that summer. However, the Republic of Ireland international would regularly fail to show he why merited a place at St James’, before Howe sent the 30-year-old on loan to Queens Park Rangers this January.
Mark Gillespie has not featured in two years since St James’ arrival as free agent
Newcastle signed a 28-year-old Mark Gillespie to a three-year contract as a free agent in July 2020 to bolster Bruce’s goalkeeping options. Yet two years down the road, the Newcastle-born shot-stopper has played three games in all competitions and made each outing in September 2020 in the EFL Cup.
Andy Carroll endured goal-shy nightmare after securing Newcastle return as free agent
Andy Carroll endured a goal-shy nightmare after returning to Newcastle as a free agent in August 2019 after leaving West Ham United. The striker had shot to prominence at St James’ after breaking out of the club’s academy in 2006, scoring 33 goals to secure a £35m transfer to Liverpool in 2011.
The nine-cap England international would only net 11 in 58 games for the Reds before joining West Ham in an initial loan. His efforts in east London convinced the Hammers to pay £15m in 2013. Yet injuries blighted his career, as Carroll played just 142 times for 34 goals up to his departure in 2019.
Bruce saw some merit in signing Carroll as a free agent to supplement his attacking options in 2019. But the decision would only return one goal across 43 games in all competitions before leaving the club in 2021. It took Carroll until January 2021 to score his only goal since sealing a return to United.
Jake Turner to leave Newcastle without making his debut after three years
Newcastle have confirmed Jake Turner will leave St James’ when his contract ends on June 30. The goalkeeper had moved to Tyneside as a free agent in July 2019 after leaving Bolton Wanderers that summer. But the 23-year-old has failed to make a single senior appearance between two loan spells.
United sent the shot-stopper to Morecambe for the first half of the 2020/21 campaign, during which he featured 17 times. The Wilmslow-born ‘keeper later joined Colchester United for the first half of the 2021/22 season, with whom he played 14 times for three clean sheets before returning in January.
Sung-Yueng Ki sealed free Newcastle transfer four years after Sunderland spell
Sung-Yueng Ki sealed a free transfer to Newcastle after leaving Swansea City in 2018. The midfielder had spent time in the North East during the 2013/14 campaign, as well, after joining Sunderland on loan. Yet his Tyneside adventure only lasted until January 2020 when released by mutual consent.
The 110-cap South Korea international additionally featured more often during his Black Cats spell than with the Toon. Ki played 34 times, scored four goals and created three during his season at the Stadium of Light. But he only managed 23 games, one assist and failed to score any for the Magpies.
Newcastle axed Stuart Findlay after two seasons and one appearance
Newcastle signed Stuart Findlay as a free agent after leaving Celtic in 2016. But the one-cap Scotland international only managed one appearance with the Toon before leaving St James’ in 2018. He also spent the 2017/18 season on loan at Kilmarnock, before securing a permanent switch that summer.
Jesus Gamez offers another free agent warning to Christian Eriksen amid Newcastle interest
Jesus Gamez offers another free agent warning for Eriksen amid Newcastle’s interest in his potential transfer this summer. The Magpies signed the right-back in 2016 after he left Atletico Madrid but he would only remain at St James’ until the 37-year-old retired in 2018, having played just 10 matches.
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