There have been constant reports in the Italian press this summer about the Italian International central midfielder Stefano Sturaro joining Newcastle from Juventus.
In fact, the latest news was that Newcastle have agreed to a €15M fee for the player, but according to the Shields Gazette today that’s all hogwash – sometimes known as rubbish
They are reporting their information is the 25-year-old is not a Rafa Benitez target for this summer.
So why all the news coming out of Italy for the last few months – it’s astonishing.
25-year-old Stefano Sturaro – not a Newcastle target
Well – no it’s not – because this is the silly season – also known as a transfer window in English football.
We suppose Sturaro could have been a target but low down on the list and with Rafa already bringing in Ki Sung-yueng as a free agent – the Italian is no longer wanted.
However, we do expect Rafa to bring in one more central midfielder this summer.
So there you have it – any more stories out of Italy on Sturaro to Newcastle we’ll need to treat with some suspicion and skepticism.
In fact, throughout the summer we are inevitably going to be linked with players we are not after – what’s new?
We should probably try to treat it as a bit of a game and certainly don’t take it too seriously.
There again we’re now assuming the Gazette report is accurate.
Fans will know precisely who Rafa is after when they sign on for Newcastle.
We hope a couple of top players will do that in the next week.
Comments welcome.
NUFC News 24/7 
28 comments so far
ShirebrookToon
Jul 5, 2018 at 9:10 AM
Comment #1Typical tabloid BS. That’s why you shouldn’t believe everything you read in the chip wrapper.
DaveD1000
Jul 5, 2018 at 9:10 AM
Comment #2To be fair Shields Gazette is usually reliable. Most of the bodies we are linked with seem to have no sources other than the floating “reports”
Ben Afri
Jul 5, 2018 at 9:15 AM
Comment #3Goes to show – One thing we’re good at as a club is keeping our targets concealed, as shown by the Ki Sung-yueng and the initial loan signing of Dubravka. Nobody knows who our targets are until they’re photographed sporting our new jersey.
Diddly
Jul 5, 2018 at 9:17 AM
Comment #4Agents pure and simple touting there players
Optimistic Panda
Jul 5, 2018 at 9:20 AM
Comment #5I read this headline as “Newcastle not pursuing players after all”
Is it my mistake or is Eds headline wrong?
martoon
Jul 5, 2018 at 9:22 AM
Comment #6I must admit I couldn’t understand why we needed this player after signing KSY.
Jib
Jul 5, 2018 at 9:24 AM
Comment #7After ourselves West Ham and Leicester
They’re now touting Wolves
http://www.juvenews.eu/notizie-juve/anche-il-wolverhampton-su-sturaro/
Jib
Jul 5, 2018 at 9:26 AM
Comment #8Optimistic Panda
Yeah
“This player” is easily taken for “players”
dick
Average_Contents
Jul 5, 2018 at 9:30 AM
Comment #9Bullsh1t Bishop earning his crust.
I bet the club through the fat fcuk (no doubt he’d charge us for it) spend more money on spinning tranfer yarns and leaking imaginary stories than actual transfers.
Fat slig out!
Hwtl
Hwtf
Optimistic Panda
Jul 5, 2018 at 9:30 AM
Comment #10Jib
Speaking of dicks, how’s your lass doing?
Average_Contents
Jul 5, 2018 at 9:36 AM
Comment #11I see jizz has been hammering the old spice again.
Gallon after gallon.
That was a good one yesterday.
The club are trying to dissuade people phoning up by using a premium number. Like it’s a favour having to go to the ticket office.
You truly are a massive fat slig apologists and grasp at none existent straws to justify everything the leech does.
Cringe.
Jib
Jul 5, 2018 at 9:37 AM
Comment #12Optimistic Panda
Very close to an overstep that !
be careful !
no relatives
wives or children when we are being spiteful to
each other !
Jib
Jul 5, 2018 at 9:39 AM
Comment #13You see Optimistic Panda
Average has a good old bash at me
no holds barred and no crying from me
No mention from either of us about wives etc.
jazzyp
Jul 5, 2018 at 9:41 AM
Comment #14Don’t worry lads you wait till the 1st.. oh wait maybe next week eh.
Optimistic Panda
Jul 5, 2018 at 9:42 AM
Comment #15So we were waiting for July to have money in the bank.
Now we’re waiting for the world cup to finish
Next the players will be on holiday after their world cup.
Then it’ll be, it was hard to get them over the line.
6weeks of the window left 4million spent, Charnleys nailing this window, definitely earning his bonus.
welshgeordie9
Jul 5, 2018 at 9:44 AM
Comment #16Surprised Yes
Shocked No
jazzyp
Jul 5, 2018 at 9:47 AM
Comment #17Op
Same every year mate.Mag reporting 400 million spent by Pl teams up to yet,And we have spent 4
Jib
Jul 5, 2018 at 9:48 AM
Comment #18Ritchie and Stoke have agreed (very generous)
personal terms – but NUFC have knocked back
Stokes offer of a £15M fee.
Optimistic Panda
Jul 5, 2018 at 9:48 AM
Comment #19Jib
I’ll say what I want to you!
You’re a 5hit heel of the highest order, changing your name from Jeff from Benwell and claiming your racist homophobic comments are jokes does not hide the fact you’re scum!
Sticks and stones little boy, no one throws a teddy like you sweetheart.
Optimistic Panda
Jul 5, 2018 at 9:50 AM
Comment #20Jazzy
Don’t mention the mag, Sgt Sangria from Benwell in Spain will be on your case.
jazzyp
Jul 5, 2018 at 9:56 AM
Comment #21OP
You would have thought that based on the apparent 40 to 50 mill Rafa has been given to spend as well as player sales,We would have bought somebody by now.
What is it 4 week till we kick off the new season and still Nufc persist with low balling at every opportunity.
When will they ever learn??
welshgeordie9
Jul 5, 2018 at 9:58 AM
Comment #22Optimistic
Grow up and talk football.
welshgeordie9
Jul 5, 2018 at 10:00 AM
Comment #23Hope the club bring more players in soon.
DubaiMicky
Jul 5, 2018 at 10:02 AM
Comment #24Got to agree with jib here, panda, you’re out of order.
welshgeordie9
Jul 5, 2018 at 10:03 AM
Comment #25Think the season starts in about 6 weeks time.
welshgeordie9
Jul 5, 2018 at 10:05 AM
Comment #26In an ideal world, im sure clubs would like to bring new players in before pre season starts.
RobLeenio
Jul 5, 2018 at 10:06 AM
Comment #27Lads and lasses, it’s time to keep the faith. Faith in Rafa, faith in the club, even faith in the management, although this is the most difficult of the three.
Every transfer window since Rafa arrived, we’ve been worried about the lack of action until there’s been some. Often when it’s come it’s been like a dam bursting. The same could be true this time.
Rafa hasn’t said anything to give us any kind of fear that he’s unhappy with progress. When he does, that’s the time to worry.
It strikes me that Rafa is the kind of manager who would not put the club in jeopardy by selling players he can’t replace or conversely by signing players who will over-inflate the squad and blow his wages budget. In this case, it’s more likely he’ll line his ducks up in a row and then knock them all down at the same time.
I’m feeling the same anxiety as everyone, but it doesn’t help anything to come on here slagging the club off or , indeed, each other.
HWTL
jazzyp
Jul 5, 2018 at 10:28 AM
Comment #28Rob
Maybe the last decade has knocked it out of most,And the same old excuses window after window.
“RAFA will get all the money Nufc Generates”
Really??