Newcastle seem keen on 18 year-old Empoli striker Arnel Jakupovic, who was at Middlesbrough for almost two years until last January when he moved to the Serie A club.
The report is in the Star that Rafa Benitez is keen to bring the teenager to Newcastle this summer.
Rafa will want to bring in players of all ages to Newcastle this summer, although his personal priority will be working with Managing Director Lee Charnley to build a Premier League side capable of competing in the top half of the table next season.
Arnel Jakupovic – 6ft 1ins Empoli striker
The Austrian U19 International striker is left footed and made his first team debut over the weekend and now has a contract at the Italian club through 2021.
So it looks like Newcastle are late on this one and probably should have signed Arnel when he was still at Middlesbrough.
That doesn’t say they cannot sign him now, the timing just seems off – always assuming the Star report is accurate.
Empoli will try to make a quick profit on the player and after paying £1M for him in January to Middlesbrough they are asking £6M for him now – they got to be kidding.
But maybe not.
After all Newcastle are a Premier League club now.
🙁
One of the things Rafa is likely to have gone through with owner Mike Ashley on Tuesday night during their four hour meeting is how he wants to bring in better quality young players, so it’s possible to bring them through to the first team eventually.
That all helps Newcastle be able to have strong teams in the future – if we can develop good young players of our own who are brought through the ranks.
That has not been true over the last ten years but Rafa seems determined to change that.
Comments welcome.
29 comments so far
WWSBRD
May 11, 2017 at 12:39 PM
Comment #1Strikers next season imo will be Gayle 2 new lads and Murphy in reserve. Armstrong and Mitro out on loan
expatmag
May 11, 2017 at 12:43 PM
Comment #2BEERMONKWY
What about these as strikers next season.
Mitrovic Gayle Gray (Burnley)
Attacking midfielders
DeJong Perez Fabregas
Wingers
Ritchie Ramirez Gray (Leicester) Aarons
NUFCadon
May 11, 2017 at 12:43 PM
Comment #3I am not so sure we will get any of the big names that are being thrown about but I think that’s a good thing. Why pay £150k a week to a has been when we could be investing money on young players that will be the next big thing. Rafa has a good eye though and likes to do this. He has made some amazing signings in his time, one that sticks out for me was xabi Alonso when he brought him into Liverpool. He snapped him just as he was starting to make a name for himself and ended up one of the best passing midfielders in the game and had a massively successful career. This is what Newcastle need to do not spend £40m on players like Mangala
Son of Geordie
May 11, 2017 at 12:44 PM
Comment #4Other clubs may not be interested in taking a risk with Gayle because of his hamstring injury recurrences. i hope he stays.
Mitrovic may go, I like him and his passion. He loves the club. He wasn’t as prominent at goal scoring but made some great quality assists. Trust in Rafa on whether to keep or sell.
expatmag
May 11, 2017 at 12:47 PM
Comment #5JFA
MAE? Bully?
Nahhhhhhhhhhh
TudorCrisps
May 11, 2017 at 12:47 PM
Comment #6http://www.footyheadlines.com/2017/04/newcastle-united-17-18-home-kit.html?m=1
New kit?
Ron Knee
May 11, 2017 at 12:48 PM
Comment #7The Chronic:-
Newcastle United defender Achraf Lazaar could be off-loaded this summer with Rafa Benitez’s rebuilding project now ready to get under way.
The Moroccan international has made just nine appearances since arriving from Palermo last summer in a £3million deal.
Lazaar is understood to want regular first-team football and that’s something Newcastle can’t guarantee him next season in the Premier League.
Son of Geordie
May 11, 2017 at 12:49 PM
Comment #8Murphy rarely featured, but when he did he was reliable. He was praised for his great work ethic and professionalism.
But if he was not a regular in the championship how could he be in the prem league with more quality signings expected to join and pushed existing players further down the pecking order.
catchy in norway
May 11, 2017 at 12:50 PM
Comment #9jail, that’s great that, is seen that tactic many times, call the people being bullied bully’s, isn’t it also used to blame a rape victim, she was asking for it because she was dressed like that, the far left in politics accuse the right of be racists, for trying to look after there kids at school.
you are a bully, you might not agree, but you are
NUFCadon
May 11, 2017 at 12:52 PM
Comment #10very deep catchy…
Now back onto football…
WWSBRD
May 11, 2017 at 12:53 PM
Comment #11Son of Geordie
Murphy won’t grumble about being 3/4th choice and he can do a job which is all ud want. Similar to Crouch at Stoke is why I think he will stay
Average_Contents
May 11, 2017 at 12:54 PM
Comment #12Catchy
Get real. You were wrong. Get over it.
beermonkey
May 11, 2017 at 12:55 PM
Comment #13expat
i no nothing about the burnley striker 1 in 3 goals last season so not sure
Demarai Gray they didnt pay alot for him
not sure we could fabregas’s wages but we can and he will come be daft not to
Jail for Ashley
May 11, 2017 at 12:57 PM
Comment #14Catchy,
Eh!!!
I don’t condone bullying at all but unfortunately if a kid turns up to his first day at school with his jumper tucked in to his underpants he is going to get grief from that day on, your defence of the Wally was the equivalent of that.
Son of Geordie
May 11, 2017 at 12:59 PM
Comment #15WWSBRD
I agree that murphy seems the sort of player not to grumble, as back up and an example to others he would be a good choice to keep on. He does have a track record to back him up. At training when they practice team formations I assume that when choosing the back up players they need to be of a high enough quality to keep pushing the better players and bring out the best in others, maintain a positive attitude when not picked, and he good enough to do a job when called on.
Son of Geordie
May 11, 2017 at 1:00 PM
Comment #16How important is it to have players like Murphy on the team? Can he influence his team mates and bring out their best somehow?
john tudor
May 11, 2017 at 1:00 PM
Comment #17Why speculate…just go with the flow and relax
Mister Tuff
May 11, 2017 at 1:02 PM
Comment #18Well we do not know a great deal more about the next stage in Rafas’ plan.
We know he’s staying -so that’s good.
So the clear out can start and the new half team be signed up.
As far as the statement about Rafa can have all the profits – what does that equate to – could be anything large or small – bit like saying how long is a piece of string.
Mentioning loans suggests to me that the possible transfer kitty may not be that large.
NUFCadon
May 11, 2017 at 1:02 PM
Comment #19does anyone think Gaël Clichy would be a good signing on a free with his contract running out?
Jail for Ashley
May 11, 2017 at 1:06 PM
Comment #20For me CB is the biggest enigma as with strikers it is possible we could keep Murphy, Gayle and Mitro while bringing in one more, however with the CB I don’t think it is necessary what so ever to have more than four especially with Hayden and Dummet in the squad, I think a top CB will be on the shopping list so imo one will have to go, I thought it was nailed on to be Mbemba but I’m not so sure now.
WWSBRD
May 11, 2017 at 1:08 PM
Comment #21Son of Geordie
I get the feeling Murphy is good at conveying his experience to others tbh true he won’t push to start but if uve got 4 strikers with only 1 starting ud not want him to really, I’ve no doubt he’s do everything he could to play though without mouthing off about it and using player power
Jail for Ashley
May 11, 2017 at 1:08 PM
Comment #22Mister Tuff,
Unfortunately it is all speculation how it will work, I think we just have to accept that Rafa is happy so therefore all is ok, as I said earlier a new deal announcement would have topped off the season finale very nicely.
WWSBRD
May 11, 2017 at 1:09 PM
Comment #23Jail
I did warn u about Hanley mate haha
NUFCadon
May 11, 2017 at 1:09 PM
Comment #24I cant see Grant Hanley being with us next season and apparently Wolves are interested in him
Mister Tuff
May 11, 2017 at 1:15 PM
Comment #25On other matters – talk of rape, racism, and dark overlords. Eh —eh —–eh.
Folk making accusations should in my opinion cast the net evenly otherwise their statement loses any credibility. Plenty of really nasty bastids on here who should be called out -but never are.
Most would just walk on by without saying anything – just like those who would walk by a granny getting beaten up in the street -it’s a reflection of society -that is just the way it is.
catchy in norway
May 11, 2017 at 1:15 PM
Comment #26does it mean i should only be know for that? because you throw it around a lot, and you being an adult should know better.
going on his record, and how derby played before xmas, it was logical, but if your closed minddd, then no matter what he was always going to be wrong.
i backed him until late jan early feb, then said he had to go.
judging his performances, i thought for a long time we were doing ok, results wise, a few games we were in lucky, but then players stoped playing for him, when that happens it’s time to go.
so again, i did nothing wrong, but got slated for it
Essex Geordie Bill
May 11, 2017 at 1:17 PM
Comment #27I reckon that around 95% of the players being mentioned will not be coming to us. Probably closer 99%
Mister Tuff
May 11, 2017 at 1:22 PM
Comment #28Going to be a mile more difficult for Rafa to get a decent side assembled for this season – as compared to what he has just done to create a Championship winning side.
I think we’ll probably see a couple of Spanish players – just under the radar of big club or perhaps those lately out of favour. Also maybe not so much activity on the French front.
might see a couple of £15 -£20 million players as well.
Talk of Rooney, Carrick -all bollox.
NUFCadon
May 11, 2017 at 1:22 PM
Comment #29Come on now, this is a football blog! lets drop the boring stuff and accusations.
And for the love of god don’t start a rant at me catchy that I am bullying you for saying that