It is generally accepted that the biggest Newcastle United signing this summer, will be to play wide right up front.
The one position in the team that the vast majority of fans agree needs a new clear first-team choice.
Other areas also needing strengthening and/or more competition, but a right-sided attacking player the big pressing one, preferably versatile enough to also play through the middle and maybe wide left.
With only 23 days to go until the new season kicks off for United, Newcastle fans hoping to hear news ASAP of this new big Newcastle United signing of the summer.
However, I think we will have to be a little bit patient, as I can see two main reasons that could well be delaying this biggest and most pressing Newcastle United signing of the summer transfer window.
One of those two big potential reasons indicated in this report earlier in the week…
The Telegraph reporting earlier this week – 22 July 2024:
‘Paul Mitchell is believed to be planning to overhaul Newcastle’s scouting department and made it clear in an interview with in-house media last week that the presence of Howe was one of the reasons he was so keen to take the job as sporting director.
Newcastle’s recruitment plans have been disrupted by the recent changes and it will be fascinating to see how Mitchell and Howe address the main weaknesses in the squad.
A right-sided forward and a right-sided centre-back are the most pressing concerns, while a midfielder and striker will have to be signed if Longstaff and Wilson depart.’
I think the behind the scenes stuff was always going to have an impact on the summer transfer window business, not so much the departure or Amanda Staveley which I guess was planned some time ago, maybe even from the very point the takeover happened,, a three-year initial plan or similar. More the arrival of a new Sporting Director in Paul Mitchell.
I know four players have already signed up on permanent deals ahead of the new season but Lewis Hall was triggered as a permanent signing during his loan spell, whilst Lloyd Kelly was a no-brainer as a free transfer, with Eddie Howe knowing him so well when signing the then 21 year old defender for £13m for Bournemouth. Whilst the two goalkeepers were smaller deals, with Vlachodimos as well a deal at least partly happening due to Forest needing to sell a player as they bought Anderson, to fit in with their PSR situation.
So I think it made sense at least up to a point, for Paul Mitchell to get his feet under the table and a chance to discuss with Eddie Howe what the Head Coach wants to happen, then seeing what the budget is likely to allow, taking into account possible departures.
As for the other second big potential reason,, that could be holding up a big NUFC signing. I think the major tournaments this summer will have impacted for many clubs and for many potential deals.
The extended breaks given to players, including those from Newcastle United, who have been most involved in the Copa America and/or European Championships, bound to make things more difficult to sort on the transfer front.
Indeed only yesterday it was claimed in Italian media that Newcastle United had made an offer for Argentina right winger Nico Gonzalez, who plays for Fiorentina.
However, in those reports, it also stated the player isn’t due back with his club until early August, as he is with his family in Buenos Aires having been given extra time off after Argentina’s Copa America triumph, only 11 days ago.
I know it is stating the obvious but far better to get the right signing eventually, than sign just anybody in the short-term just to satisfy the fans’ hunger for an exciting signing.
The fact is as well, as the quality has increased at Newcastle United, the pool of potential players who can add to that, has gone in the other direction. To become an automatic first-choice player at Newcastle now, you are talking about a seriously high level you are looking for.
You then, of course, need any new signing available not just for a medical and to sign off the deal, but also to do all the media stuff that is the norm for clubs to do to maximise the profile of your club.
Putting all that together, I think for sure Newcastle United will sign a high-quality player to wide right, but it might not happen for a while. Newcastle could even have somebody lined up to sign already but are just waiting for that player to be available after their extended break.
Eddie Howe likes to give signings the best chance to settle in before demanding much of them and with three Premier League games followed swiftly by the first international break, it is seven and a half weeks until United play their fourth PL match of the season at Wolves on Sunday 15 September. This could well be the kind of point that Eddie Howe would be aiming for, with any new signings made in the days and weeks to come, not just a new right winger.
Bruno Guimaraes signed right at the end of the January 2022 transfer window, the same with Anthony Gordon in January 2023. If you want real quality, sometimes it just can’t be rushed.
