Ex-Newcastle player now admits the writing was ‘on the wall’ for him after talks with Eddie Howe

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Newcastle United did not see the overhaul predicted for them this summer.

While a major revamp had been mooted as a possibility for Newcastle, the transfer market in fact proved very underwhelming indeed.

Alan Shearer, after all, slammed the club’s lack of business, claiming decision-makers had failed to back Eddie Howe.

Still, there were at least some departures.

Matt Ritchie, of course, departed the club after a brilliant eight years, while Paul Dummett also brought an end to his long association with Newcastle.

Perhaps more importantly, Newcastle lost Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to Nottingham Forest and Brighton respectively against their will, in order to raise money to avoid a ten-point deduction for breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability (PSR) rules.

Obviously, it is a huge boost to keep all of Bruno Guimaraes, Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon despite links with a move away, but seeing Anderson and Minteh depart was a big blow.

Another surprising departure was a certain Jamal Lewis.

The Northern Ireland international joined Brazilian giants Sao Paulo on loan and has now opened up on the shock move to Brazil.

Jamal Lewis now comments on shock Newcastle United exit

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Lewis admitted the writing was on the wall for him at Newcastle this summer after talks with Howe, prompting the move to Brazil.

“I’ve spoken to the manager and I’m in my last year and I’ve done a season-long loan, so that kind of has the writing on the wall there,” he said.

“If Sao Paulo can be my long-term home for the long-term future, that would be amazing.”

Jamal Lewis is one of the worst signings Newcastle have made in years

Lewis may well go on to have a successful career and taking such a surprise next step in his career is certainly admirable.

Still, for whatever reason, it’s difficult to look past Lewis being one of Newcastle’s worst signings in years.

Having arrived for a reported £15m, the defender mustered only 36 appearances since 2020.

Hopefully, the player kicks on from here but – from a Newcastle perspective – Lewis has been a colossal waste of money.