Sports writer Dean Jones works for the Bleacher report and right out of the blue today he says that Newcastle could now make a move for James McCarthy who we have been after since early January when we tried to sign him during the last transfer window.
We know Rafa is keen on the player but not too keen on the £25M price tag it may take to get the very experienced Everton player to Newcastle.
But on the other hand, we have not spent much money in the transfer market so far and in fact by our reckoning only £4.5M net for the first five deals including Mikel Merino. – who should sign for us on a season long loan deal today with an obligation to buy next summer for £6M.
The 21-year-old Spaniard should sign for us on a season long loan deal today with an obligation to buy next summer for £6M.
26-year-old James McCarthy in Republic of Ireland colors
So we certainly have money available to buy some class players this summer, as well as Rafa and Lee Charnley getting some decent deals completed fairly cheaply so far this summer.
This is the tweet sent out by Dean Jones:
Sounds like Newcastle could go ahead with a bid to sign James McCarthy from Everton.
— Dean Jones (@DeanJonesBR) July 27, 2017
James McCarthy was injured a lot last season and seemed to be out of favor with new Dutch manager Ronald Koeman and we cannot believe James would be happy to stay at the club for another season.
He is available for transfer but maybe what the Magpies need to do is to test the waters with say a bid of £18M and take it from there?
James has made 220 total Premier League appearances for Wigan and Everton and he’s certainly available.
He has played 127 times for Everton with 6 goals but has been out of favor since Ronald Koeman joined the club and he seems to have no future at the Toffees.
James was born in Glasgow and has played 41 times for the Republic of Ireland and grew up supporting Celtic as a child would you believe
Newcastle was supposed to have made a £16M bid for James in late January but that was turned down by the Toffees.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
165 comments so far
ShirebrookToon
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:28 AM
Comment #1No thanks
RUNAWAY777
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:30 AM
Comment #2Getting this player from Everton will not improve our team so no thank you
expatmag
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:31 AM
Comment #3I honestly dont understand why we would need him.
We currently have Shelvey Hayden Merino Colback Diame and Saveit.
Even if we sd Colback and Saveit, we still have enough and BETTTER than McCarthy.
scout
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:31 AM
Comment #4Test the water with a club record breaking bid for this two bob midfielder? He’s no better than Joey Barton.
Get the Ox in for 35 million, proper player
expatmag
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:32 AM
Comment #5sold
ShirebrookToon
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:34 AM
Comment #6Runaway
Where you sitting for Spurs game bro?
Ron Knee
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:35 AM
Comment #7Repost
It’s great that Rafa sounded optimistic. If he can instil self-belief & get the team well-organised then we should survive our first season back.
RUNAWAY777
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:36 AM
Comment #8East corner bro
Shot Bru
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:36 AM
Comment #9Curtis Good possibly off to FC Zwolle
ShirebrookToon
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:37 AM
Comment #10Runaway
Me too. Season ticket in block D
toontaff2
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:37 AM
Comment #11Can understand why Rafa’d want a proven PL midfielder, but 25 million is daft. Everton will need to do the same as us, albeit some more expensive deadwood, but they will need to shift him before deadline day.
Everton looked poor, last night, in the Europa League, but that Spanish forward, Sandro Ramirez, looked decent.
toontaff2
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:38 AM
Comment #12Spurs match sold out! Full hoose.
Novocastrian66
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:38 AM
Comment #13Pass on him. Decent player but the fee is too high even by today’s standards. Everton are trying to claw back some of their ridiculous outlay or to fund more over the top signings.
I think Everton have had a poor window, they have paid way excessive fees for some decidedly average players. Their best signing is Sandro.
Rotonda heights
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:40 AM
Comment #14Ed
I know you’re a fan of mccarthy but i would be horrified if we spent 25m on him, half would still seem an awful lot.
toontaff2
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:41 AM
Comment #15Novo, wish we were playing Everton, not Spurs, first game after watching them, last night.
Defensively, ropy, very slow build up and playing like a team of strangers. Goal by Baines was very lucky and the Slovak team hit the bar, when 0-0.
magscar
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:41 AM
Comment #16Repost
Expat
Rafa has made clear to all which players are not in his squad and whilst some may stick around until contract ends I hope something can transpire for the benefit of players and club.
Rafa has clearly accepted the limitations of his budget compared to the existing please clubs and was confirmed of working within it. Only issue is the larger than expected inflation of prices. I defy anyone to say they saw the full extent of the stupid prices and wages now apparent and probably rising further.
As some other poster said a while back he is looking to fine tune last season’s system but with an upgrade on some positions as budget allows. A project takes time and in my opinion it is heading in right direction in the main even if not as quickly as I and others would like but as ever it is difficult not to be impatient as an NUFC fan
0
magscar
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:39 AM
Comment #15
Please clubs should be PL thanks auto correct
magscar
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:43 AM
Comment #17Novocastrian
With you on this one. If we have still have a chunk to spend can’t see this as best use of it.
Novocastrian66
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:46 AM
Comment #18I’d be horrified if we spent more than £10m for him. He would strengthen our side but not at £20m. Everton need to get rid of him, I think with him it’s a buyers market.
hibbit
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:48 AM
Comment #19some on here might like James McCarthy some might not
but one thing is for certain we don’t have anywhere near the £25 m Everton are asking for him to spend on one player
magscar
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:51 AM
Comment #20Think this could be a good example of anticipating a high fee for one of your unwanted players whilst paying high end fees out first and not working out. Can quickly become buyer’s market if no real interest at expected price was apparent already.
Everton may not worry yet as have had good money in but missing top 4 this coming season (as I think they will) would be a blow, with De Boer held to account.
DaraghL
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:54 AM
Comment #21As an Irishman, I would love to see more Irish Internationals at the club….but I would be gutted if we spent more than £5m on McCarthy, he’s ok but nothing better than that. Generally a passenger in games, offers very little. Everton have no interest in him, that should say it all.
wynsleap
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:58 AM
Comment #22McCarthy at £25m? You are kidding surely? Far rather £10m for Allan and £15m spare towards a top striker.
magscar
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:59 AM
Comment #23There could be something in Rafa retaining an interest in him notwithstanding those here or brought in as he was looking for an experienced midfielder in a pivotal position ( no pun intended) for him in first season back up.
Would entail others moving out as we are anticipating but price would surely have to be no more than £15m. I trust Rafa’s judgement on players for his system within the budget he currently has even though I would baulk at paying a fee such as being bandied about in January
carl
Jul 28, 2017 at 9:59 AM
Comment #24I agree with Rafa in not overly building up fan expectations. But why now talk on here of we should still survive and Jail going into a tailspin?
For the more astute, we don’t think anything has changed. As a fan base we need to be more level headed and look at the art of the possible given the disparity of transfer funds outside a handful of clubs. Current spending by many PL clubs is unsustainable and there will be a fall out over time. A wage cap could in the short term regularise future investment.
Rafa and many others managing in the Premiership are constrained at present. Bobby has been saying this since the end of May but not everyone has chosen to take note.
For us It’s a building process made easier by the departure of Carr. He’s the one who should be getting the brickbats. Carr has got off lightly over the passing years of self sufficiency by the myth of us “only going for his sixth choice”. It’s not difficult spotting a Ronaldo but more difficult finding the uncut diamonds which was his mandate.
It seems that Rafa has an appreciation of managing within a budget something made easier by the departure of Carr.
Ron Knee
Jul 28, 2017 at 10:02 AM
Comment #25Extended highlights:
https://www.nufc.co.uk/nufc-tv/highlights/bradford-friendly-highlights-17-18
Why was Shelvey’s goal disallowed?
Mag52
Jul 28, 2017 at 10:07 AM
Comment #26.
McCarthy ? He’s overpriced and over there. That’s where he should stay.
scout
Jul 28, 2017 at 10:12 AM
Comment #27What about Walcott or The Ox? Class acts compared to this geezer
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jul 28, 2017 at 10:17 AM
Comment #28Watched the full 90 of the Bradford game last night and I could see a marked improvement from last season in the way that we are passing the ball and passing and moving everything seemed quicker and more incisive with us switching the play to the other wing a lot more! Helps having 2 outright wingers who hug the touchline rather than coming inside all the time !
On Hayden I reckon he will be a beast this season breaking up play can see him being in the England squad by the end of the season
Rafa’s interview last night was pretty sobering eh?! I think the constraints will make him even more determined to do well this season and I still think by the end of the window he will have a squad capable it just might mean we have to wait till nearer the end when teams are panic selling !
hibbit
Jul 28, 2017 at 10:24 AM
Comment #29well nobody can say we bought the title this season !!!!
JP...from The Rock
Jul 28, 2017 at 10:25 AM
Comment #30Oh God not McCarthy again!! Please don’t sign him Rafa! He is just another Colback. Way overrated and expensive. Much rather we go for Allan or Samaris.
Ron Knee
Jul 28, 2017 at 10:30 AM
Comment #31See what happens when you save up all those Green Shield Stamps!
toon kk
Jul 28, 2017 at 10:33 AM
Comment #32Lee
How we play is often down to the quality of the team we are up against . Also you never know whether we’re going to turn up or not, we’re very unpredictable.
Also towards the end of the transfer window usually clubs panic buy not sell. They sell when offers come in they can’t refuse occasionally.
magscar
Jul 28, 2017 at 10:38 AM
Comment #33Hibbit
So we are going to win it then 😉
Now known as “doing a Leicester”
Klatoon
Jul 28, 2017 at 10:39 AM
Comment #34If he weren’t British, doubt he would even command a 7m valuation. Offers very little in terms of end product or control of midfield. Alan from Napoli would be a better, cheaper option.
Oldgit1
Jul 28, 2017 at 10:40 AM
Comment #35The £6m payments from Spurs for Sissisko have paid for Atsu, with next years going to be used for Merino not bad getting two players for one which leaves £18m still owing.
This puts our spending in perspective which is £8m after receiving the monies for Thaurin and the others we have sold. Now tell me we have nothing to spend.
It’s bloody ridiculous. What’s happen to the money??
magscar
Jul 28, 2017 at 10:43 AM
Comment #36Toon kk
Clubs do panic sell near end of the window if they are overstocked and desperate and no realistic takers. Great if your a club still in the market but only at the right price and happy to wait otherwise. Loans usually only other option if no takers at sellers price. McCarthy as a loan ??
AncientC
Jul 28, 2017 at 10:45 AM
Comment #37McCarthy is Irish – so does not qualify as British. Although, technically, Ireland is part of the British Isles.
This £20+ million valuation that Everton have placed on McCarthy’s head was dreamed up by the Daily Mail.
AncientC
Jul 28, 2017 at 10:46 AM
Comment #38I see McCarthy was born in Glasgow. British he is.
magscar
Jul 28, 2017 at 10:47 AM
Comment #39Oldgit1
Don’t think Rafa was saying we didn’t have money only that he wanted more players in which would seemingly exclude relatively high fee players for now. Still think in right set of circumstances that could change but not getting too worried about it. See how first games pan out in performance terms and still time in window to reconsider options?
AncientC
Jul 28, 2017 at 10:54 AM
Comment #40Net spend is currently at 4.5 million. Anybody still believe there is another 70.5 left in the kitty, after Benitez’ comments?
BBC sport should offer up a retraction. Where were so called sports journalists getting these 75 to 100 million (£) estimates from.