Whoever the new head coach is this summer at Newcastle, he does not have the final say on incoming or outgoing transfers, so it’s not too surprising that Newcastle are pushing ahead in the transfer market, despite uncertainty on who the head coach will be.
Fabian Schar – FC Basel center-back
The new head coach will be one of a triumvirate on transfers that includes Managing Director Lee Charnley and Chief Scout Graham Carr, and Graham has identified a number of targets for the summer, and we have already been linked with a number of players this week.
Newcastle seem to be active already and news over the last few days is that we had offered Marseilles winger Andre Ayew a new deal.
But some top clubs like Tottenham, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, Wolfsburg and Roma are also said to be interested in the 25 year-old Ghanaian winger/striker, who is a free agent in the summer.
Defense is an area Newcastle must strengthen this summer, and we reported that Newcastle are interested in FC Basel’s 23 year-old center-back Fabian Schar yesterday.
But with Arsenal, Juventus and Inter-Milan also after the impressive defender, who will be a free agent in the summer, our chances of signing him would seem to be slim.
The good news is that we are going after some (very) good players – but the bad news is that bigger clubs than Newcastle also seem to be interested in our transfer targets.
The fact that we cannot offer European football to our would be signings could become a major negative for the club this summer, and Newcastle may have to drop down the list to some of our lower level targets.
Another player we have been linked with recently is Levante’s 20 year-old Spanish U21 midfielder Victor Camarasa, who would be available for around £5M in the summer.
Newcastle will want to bring in as many players a possible early in the summer, so they can have a full pre-season under the new head coach – whoever he turns out to be – hopefully somebody from the continent.
And of course we already have center-back Jamaal Lascelles and goalkeeper Karl Darlow joining the first team squad after a season on loan at Nottingham Forest.
Since Newcastle seem to be after a number of free agents, it would be good if we can close deals on those players early, and announce the signings before the summer transfer window even opens.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
You can follow us on our three social media sites below:
42 comments so far
bladeuser
Mar 12, 2015 at 8:56 AM
Comment #1NUFC fans are complaining about the £52 charge for the away trip to anfield.They want it rounded up to £60.
Obertan's better than Messi
Mar 12, 2015 at 9:01 AM
Comment #2OOOh more bargain basement deals to get ourselves excited about.
Get all these in and if we’re not distracted by silly unwelcome cup runs next season, I can see us actually pushing for 9th, possibly even 8th in the league with a bit of luck.
Exciting times.
Go Carver
Go NUFC
Go Ashley
hibbit
Mar 12, 2015 at 9:09 AM
Comment #3this is all pr to steer fans thouughts away from the poor results………… look at us were thinking ahead well done mr charnley
Lindisfarne
Mar 12, 2015 at 9:09 AM
Comment #4Has Ajax got anymore duffers that they want to make some money from?
BoyDoneGood
Mar 12, 2015 at 9:14 AM
Comment #5It will become clear from the early signings (especially Head Coach?) whether the management have European/CL aspirations. Then ambitious players will know whether this is a place to be. I think the signs are that the decks have been cleared for a purpose – a top 4 challenge? – but that’s 50% deduction and 50% wishful thinking. A majority of posters on this blog seem to be much more certain that 2013-15 demonstrate a permanent (even “lifelong”) lack of ambition for anything other than the financial security of so-called “mid-table mediocrity”. That’s just another opinion, and we only need to wait 2 months to discover the answer.
Everton match: I voted pessimistically. Good teams have losing streaks, partly form but also largely statistical chance. Everton’s surely has lasted longer than expected already. I hope I’m wrong.
PSG: Awesome, without the big striker! Could have been more awesome – that Luiz free kick was out of the top drawer. Chelsea’s MOTM was definitely in goal – always a bad sign. Mourinho’s face was wonderful. I always think Wenger’s pissed off look, like somebody with terminal haemorrhoids sucking a lemon, is the best, but JM looked as if somebody had inserted the lemon. Sideways.
Obertan's better than Messi
Mar 12, 2015 at 9:17 AM
Comment #6Season ticket or paint the house …
If I do it on match days you could all come around and watch me!
Facundo Ferreyra is going to hold the ladder if he’s up to the physical side of house painting in England?
Where’s them colour charts.
stan anderson
Mar 12, 2015 at 9:28 AM
Comment #7Is it season ticket renewal time ?.I mean we are linked with all these players to sign in the summer window.
Do we once again swallow the bullsh-t that is fed to us,get all excited and think they really mean it this year.
Sure we will,take it and buy all the bullsh-t.
beermonkey
Mar 12, 2015 at 9:31 AM
Comment #8Obertan’s better than Messi
let us know if chucky comes round to help you paint
I am beginning to think he don’t exist and he is just a myth
headtheball
Mar 12, 2015 at 9:34 AM
Comment #9BoyDoneGood
You mention Wenger’s face when rattled.
What about Mr Potato Heed at West Ham?
He looks like a bulldog chewing a wasp!
HWTL
ToonMatt
Mar 12, 2015 at 9:35 AM
Comment #10I reckon the slug will spend about £8m-£10m and there will be a few freebies, All this talk of Andre Ayew is pure garbage, It’s the same with the rumours of a new head coach we all know Carver will be here next season, Rangers have shown how to get rid of that parasite and his scumbag mates so we need to do the same, Fans need to stay away for the good of the club and who knows in a years time we could have a new owner who is ambitious and actually wants to see the team do well?
Lindisfarne
Mar 12, 2015 at 9:36 AM
Comment #11So Sammy describes the situation exactly as it stands, the players like JC and don’t want to let him down, how quaint. But what is not mentioned is that the situation is exactly the same as with the previous manager.
Is the poor performance down to the players technical quality, injuries and lack of depth. Or the Coaches technical ability, personality and lack of experience?
The Merry Go Round keeps turning and the majority stay on for the ride, whilst the rest of the Fairground gets updated with the latest technological entertainment. Classic isolationist thinking that relies on generational dogma.
beermonkey
Mar 12, 2015 at 9:49 AM
Comment #12we all know we are due to post a nice healthy profit 40mill or more
the accounts are normally out before the fans forum and given I have a reasonable distrust for the regime I am a little suspicious they are l8,
back in the summer they threw a right paddy at the press when it was suggested we had 40 mill war chest to spend
so on that front there not going to want to tip there hand by announcing huge profits
so where will the go cos I don’t think it will be announced as profit for the club
Lindisfarne
Mar 12, 2015 at 9:50 AM
Comment #13A really depressing thought, since Andy Cole has any Newcastle player gone on to bigger and better?
I can think of a few who have played in the Champions League and a UEFA final, but no one who has won a trophy.
lesh
Mar 12, 2015 at 9:50 AM
Comment #14Obertan
What time’s the ticket office open for tickets to watch you paint and most importantly, watch the paint dry?
Will you provide free refreshments for the media?
And most importantly, what paint you using? The press are suggesting Farrah and Ball rather than cheap stuff – or is that you spinning just to sell tickets?
Mind, be warned, if it turns out that you don’t buy the top-drawer paint, the crowd’ll be on your back and organising demos demanding changes!
And assuming you’ll be selling replica overalls, they’d better not be tat from the sweatshops of Viet Nam or somewhere.
As far as Ferreya making an appearance, we’ll see him in action – if he can get his bad back off his bed.
Let’s have honest answers – Obertan
What time’s the ticket office open for tickets to watch you paint and most importantly, watch the paint dry?
Will you provide free refreshments for the media?
And most importantly, what paint you using? The press are suggesting Farrah and Balk rather than cheap stuff – or is that you spinning just to sell tickets?
Let’s hope we get honest answers to the questions too.
Obertan's better than Messi
Mar 12, 2015 at 9:51 AM
Comment #15The team had that five game blip when Pardew was under pressure for his job.
Perhaps managers on their knees pleading and begging them to perform to save their skins actually works sometimes.
Says a lot about the level our millionaires play at week in week out.
Also a lot about our coaches motivational skills.
lesh
Mar 12, 2015 at 9:53 AM
Comment #16** whoops, copy and paste went daft!
Obertan's better than Messi
Mar 12, 2015 at 9:53 AM
Comment #17lesh
I’ll let my wife Wendy handle all those questions.
She’s a painter too, she specialises in stadium size whitewashing. 😉
BoyDoneGood
Mar 12, 2015 at 9:56 AM
Comment #18Headtheball
I like that a lot. Pity the wasp.
lesh
Mar 12, 2015 at 9:57 AM
Comment #19Over
Tell Wendy – no bullshit, just facts. Once bitten etc
Lindisfarne
Mar 12, 2015 at 10:01 AM
Comment #20Didi Hamann!!!
Obertan's better than Messi
Mar 12, 2015 at 10:06 AM
Comment #21Take one bucketful of bullshit.
Watch Wendy dip in her magic brush, spin spin spin and watch her paint the perfect picture.
When she walks out of the room you can smell freshly baked cookies.
What a girl.
davetoon
Mar 12, 2015 at 10:07 AM
Comment #22Really excited to see if we can get a new big name accountant in over the summer
Obertan's better than Messi
Mar 12, 2015 at 10:27 AM
Comment #23I wonder what £40m quid looks like?
How big a pile?
It could and should look like two really good centre forwards?
We’re watching sh!te and all the dosh is locked in the club’s safe.
Criminal at a sporting club.
Isn’t it all about putting the best team possible team on the pitch?
BandB
Mar 12, 2015 at 10:30 AM
Comment #24On the subject of PR.
It’s now a week since the club was widely praised for it’s “forthright” statement on the Cisse spitting incident.
Have they commented since he got the full seven game ban?
Lindisfarne
Mar 12, 2015 at 10:36 AM
Comment #25davetoon
Imagine KPMG as our shirt sponsor….is that a step up and in what way?
Lindisfarne
Mar 12, 2015 at 10:43 AM
Comment #26Those Southampton lads are definitely more highly educated:
http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/gallery/2015/mar/11/premier-league-footballers-favourite-books-in-pictures#img-5
Harley
Mar 12, 2015 at 10:44 AM
Comment #27Half of me thinks they are genuinely looking for a good coach and have identified how short of quality players we are and are preparing a major spending spree in the summer.
Then the other half thinks I’m stupid for even thinking that and tells me that carver is getting the job with a few bargain signings.
Ian Magpie
Mar 12, 2015 at 10:47 AM
Comment #28Sports Direct FC (The club we know as NUFC died 8 years ago) only has itself to blame for not being able to compete with other so called ‘big clubs’. We had a fantastic opportunity when we finnished 5th to build a cracking team but but ………..we know the rest! Dont get your hopes built up and go all gooey eyed if we sign a young forward and centre back. Thats the level of our ambition.
BandB
Mar 12, 2015 at 11:28 AM
Comment #29Both Cisse and the club garnered a lot of credit for their reaction to the spitting a week ago today.
Both were full of remorse, with Cisse apparently offering to step up his community work to make amends.
The club gave every impression it thought that was a good idea.
It was made independently of the outcome of the hearing, and wasn’t predicated on whether it was successful in mitigating his ban.
So I am hoping to hear a statement confirming that this sincere offer will still go ahead.
Lindisfarne
Mar 12, 2015 at 11:38 AM
Comment #30I got the impression that the club had learnt from past experience that showing remorse through doing further charity work was cleansing for the sole. However, what is the message given to the recipients? “I wouldn’t be here if I had not been bad”.
I would have thought extra curricular work for the club would be part of players contracts be a compulsory and regular. Even working / training with the U21s should not be considered a punishment, but a reciprocal learning experience that improves respect and technical ability for both parties.
Lindisfarne
Mar 12, 2015 at 11:39 AM
Comment #31# sole = soul
wish it was a deliberate mistake!
BoyDoneGood
Mar 12, 2015 at 11:44 AM
Comment #32IanMagpie
5th was not a great springboard. In the following season Cissé played, I think, 47 matches and his scoring fell right off. The whole squad was stretched. There was extra media cash from Europa League matches, but much reduced cash from weaker PL performance – a net reduction in media income of £4M. The big breakthrough is CL, and we were not in a position to challenge in ’12-13 since we would have had to go further into the red. That’s changed now – let’s see what Ashley intends…
Sav
Mar 12, 2015 at 12:13 PM
Comment #33Hallelujah for the latterday Bin-dippers! We start with a list of ‘Who is free’ and then back off the ones where a ‘big club’ might be interested? Inspiring. I loved the bit about ‘a triumvirate of Carr. Charnley and Carver’. LOL. Class. Three little monkeys, more like.
lesh
Mar 12, 2015 at 12:18 PM
Comment #34Lindisfarne
You’ve got to hand it to Joey boy for plumping for Plato.
Some others’d think that Plato’s what you put your dinnero on!
Harley
I too think I’m stupid for thinking Carver’s gonna be given the HC job!
They way they’re issuing pro-Carver spins, they’re working on the premis that by saying something often enough, people’ll believe it!
Furthermore, if what Sammy et al are saying had detracted from the party line of thought, they’d have been told to shut up!
Charnley and his crowd are sheisters, con-merchants – albeit not good ones.
Lindisfarne
Mar 12, 2015 at 12:32 PM
Comment #35lesh
I have often thought I should have a crack at Plato, I shall look out for Englands greatest (to have never played more than one International match) midfielders’ review before I go any further.
dazzler
Mar 12, 2015 at 12:34 PM
Comment #36To be fair to the players etc. None of them are going to come out and say something along the lines of “we’re playing shite on purpose, we don’t like Carver.”
Everything said so far is essentially what you hear from all players when the manager is under scrutiny.
“We’re all in this together”
“We have the managers back”
“We’re fighting for…..” bla bla bla.
How often do they get a mention once they are binned?
I have some faint optimism left in me (that I thought died a few years ago), that something is afoot this summer. Either a trimming of the overheads in line with the club being sold, or decent investment and a decent manager. Carver won’t be going anywhere but I can’t see him being or HC come the summer.
If he is I won’t even bring myself to watch the games on a dodgy streaming site until things change.
dazzler
Mar 12, 2015 at 12:35 PM
Comment #37our not or
got a bit carried away with myself then,
Lindisfarne
Mar 12, 2015 at 12:45 PM
Comment #38dazzler
“dodgy (interweb) streaming”
“carried away with myself”
Please try to contain yourself, I’m having my lunch.
hibbit
Mar 12, 2015 at 1:02 PM
Comment #39this pr lark is just painting over cracks hoping we don’t notice what a club two steps forward three back
lesh
Mar 12, 2015 at 3:05 PM
Comment #40Dazzler
I hope your optimism bears fruit on any of the hopes you raise.
As I can’t see Ashley doing anything out of the ordinary that’s positive in the eyes of anyone else but him and his henchmen/ lackies, the best we can wish for is that we’re bought out by someone who really does want to make a success of Newcastle United.
I guess we’ll just have to live im hope.