We weren’t too surprised that Rafa has allowed Kevin Mbabu to move permanently to Young Boys on a three year deal, but we also knew he had his supporters on Tyneside and when he did play for Newcastle – only 5 times – he looked a very good player who was very very fast.
He had a great game at home to Chelsea on his starting debut for the club at left back on 26 September, 2015 and he looked a great player in the making – he was terrific in that game – but injuries continued to restrict his playing time for the first team.
Some fans have taken to Twitter to register their disappointment but also to wish the 21 year-old good luck back in Switzerland and there’s no reason he can’t have a very good career there.
But Rafa is thinking big – and we expect a high clearout of players that will include bigger names than Kevin and we would be too surprised if high profile Tim Krul, Siem de Jong, Chancel Mbemba and even Aleksandar Mitrovic could all be ont heir way this summer.
21 year-old defender Kevin Mbabu – sold to Young Boys
And Newcastle fans will be upset at some of those players leaving the club – for sure.
Top managers in the game of football really have to be ruthless and we’ll see that coming from Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola, Antonio Conte and our very own Rafa Benitez this summer – four of the best 10 managers in the game.
Here’s some pf the tweets after the club announced Kevin Mbabu had been sold and of course we wish the lad all the success in the world in his future football career.
Quality player w/ potential… Rafa must have his eyes peeled on full backs or he wouldn’t have gone ? especially Anita going too #NUFC
— CallumGeere (@CallumGeere) June 15, 2017
..wanna wish @Kevin_Baboo all the best in what I’m sure will be a bright future, good luck lad #NUFC
— ?Black&WhiteTeeth? (@ToonArmyOfOne) June 15, 2017
Good luck to Kevin Mbabu. Showed promise. But #nufc reshaping whole squad.
— Lee Ryder (@lee_ryder) June 15, 2017
Don’t get why we’ve sold Kevin Mbabu, and I don’t think I ever will. Big talent in exchange for presumably low fee for #NUFC
— Jacque Talbot (@Jac_Talbot) June 15, 2017
Quality player w/ potential… Rafa must have his eyes peeled on full backs or he wouldn’t have gone ? especially Anita going too #NUFC
— CallumGeere (@CallumGeere) June 15, 2017
@Kevin_Baboo Gutted you’ve left, but all the best for the future #nufc
— M@ (@MattAssTho) June 15, 2017
Kevin Mbabu LEAVES #nufc. Story of unfulfilled promise: https://t.co/1Ci2RHb3qp
— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) June 15, 2017
Not the fastest but Kevin Mbabu was clocked at 36.1 k/ph, a speed only bettered by Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale – 36.9 k/ph. ?#NUFC
— James (@jamesd4141) June 6, 2017
66 comments so far
GeordieTwo
Jun 15, 2017 at 8:45 PM
Comment #41I’m getting concerned now. Is it just that odour coming out of my wellies or are we in trouble?
MadisonToon
Jun 15, 2017 at 8:46 PM
Comment #42LCBP
Those are some pretty insane prices. However, I don’t see them coming down anytime soon with TV money just increasing. Either we get with the program and adjusted our expectations of what we can buy with the amount of cash available or we waste a few windows figuring it out – hopefully Rafa has it under control, but I really would like to see a transfer to give me some evidence that his team is getting work done behind the scenes.
jazzyp
Jun 15, 2017 at 8:50 PM
Comment #43#NUFC persuaded a world class manager to stay with them in the Championship, #SAFC couldn’t lure one from Scotland.
That’s the difference Between our clubs and I don’t see the scum coming back up next season
GeordieTwo
Jun 15, 2017 at 8:52 PM
Comment #44Spot on Madison. That first big buy will tell us a lot. Surely we need a 30M pound striker to start things off with a bang?
jazzyp
Jun 15, 2017 at 8:55 PM
Comment #45Newcastle are pursuing Jonathan Bamba
Premier League side Newcastle United are in the process of making a play for 21-year-old St Étienne winger Jonathan Bamba, according to Foot Mercato.
NUFC are prepared to submit a formal offer for Bamba, but the situation has been blocked in recent days as Les Verts worked on securing Oscar Garcia as their new manager.
Serie A side Atalanta have also registered an interest in the former Angers loanee.
Add another name to the ever growing list guys
GeordieTwo
Jun 15, 2017 at 9:01 PM
Comment #46Excellent bloggings tonight lads.
MadisonToon
Jun 15, 2017 at 9:07 PM
Comment #47@G2
A big signing would show intent. A nuanced signing would be fine too – a high potential player from the continent that is flying under the radar. We need starting XI-quality players and those won’t come cheap.
BlacknWhiteBarmy
Jun 15, 2017 at 9:18 PM
Comment #48Perhaps the takeover is stopping us bringing in players atm. New owners may want a say in where the money is going – players leaving are money in FatAshes pocket
Our Toon
Jun 15, 2017 at 9:36 PM
Comment #49Jazzy
Prices are sky high but the 2 players you mentioned are British, if the FA care about our national team they should make it cheaper to buy British players. Since the new rule for HG players has come in prices have gone through the roof
lochinvar
Jun 15, 2017 at 9:36 PM
Comment #50Mentioned earlier tonight but does this mean we have Barkley back on our list ?
Ajax captain Davy Klaassen has arrived on Merseyside to complete the formalities of a £26m move to Everton.Dutch international Klaassen, 24, has become a priority midfield signing for manager Ronald Koeman as doubts persist over the future of Ross Barkley.
The 23-year-old Englishman has been told he will be sold if he fails to sign a new contract at Goodison Park.
reilly
Jun 15, 2017 at 9:43 PM
Comment #51Exciting times.The ashley era is coming to an end.
Jib
Jun 15, 2017 at 9:51 PM
Comment #52Reilly
Silly boy
Stick to design
Our Toon
Jun 15, 2017 at 9:52 PM
Comment #53Jib
Silly racist, stick to Google.
Our Toon
Jun 15, 2017 at 9:54 PM
Comment #54Jib
It’s not nice when nothing constructive is offered is it? if you don’t agree with Reilly then make your point without trying to belittle him / her.
MadisonToon
Jun 15, 2017 at 9:55 PM
Comment #55Barkley could be a great addition – his head hasn’t seemed in it lately and I think Rafa might be able to get it screwed on straight. However, I think he’d command a 40m+ fee which is not going to work with the books so I can’t see us going for him. Happy to be proved wrong, especially if reilly’s statement about the end of the ashley era comes true.
HarriboNo9
Jun 15, 2017 at 10:13 PM
Comment #56Makes me so mad when you see fans on here saying that players like Lucas aren’t that good and passed their best? he is only 30 yo had an amazing season last year and is one of the best Brazilian defensive midfielders of all time, for 2 seasons with a winner like him in our squad would be invaluable. why pick someone not tested in the premier league over an experienced Brazilian international like Lucas. in my opinion its a no brainer, obviously with more additions on top of him for this season coming of course but for 4 million, seriously ? what a signing he would be. Has anyone seen Lucas Leiva stats in the Prem League? the third best defensive midfielder in prem history going by games played –
https://www.premierleague.com/players/3137/Lucas-Leiva/stats?se=-1
ShirebrookToon
Jun 15, 2017 at 10:24 PM
Comment #57What you mean by that Reilly!!?? 🙂
You shite stirring again!! 😀
welshgeordie9
Jun 15, 2017 at 10:48 PM
Comment #58Still haven’t signed anyone, what a load of shite, so much for getting all the players in before pre season training and for the friendlies.
James RS
Jun 15, 2017 at 10:51 PM
Comment #59Kevin should never have been let go.Great player with unfulfilled potential. What was Rafa thinking about and I bet we only got peanuts for him. Always looked good to me. Another Santon boob . I don’t even think Vuckic should have gone either.
Bambams
Jun 15, 2017 at 11:46 PM
Comment #60Seen this you lot….
http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/890066872?-11058:809:0
ShirebrookToon
Jun 16, 2017 at 12:03 AM
Comment #61Bambams
Aye. I read an article earlier about it. Something’s happening if Barnes has been brought into the fold!
ShirebrookToon
Jun 16, 2017 at 12:05 AM
Comment #62Wonder if Reilly is onto summat then!
jimmysmith
Jun 16, 2017 at 5:46 AM
Comment #63I really hope we get Lucas, and I really hope we get Reina. Those two and an equally good centre forward and left winger and I’d confidently predict a top ten finish under Rafa. 8th, 9th or 10th with that calibre of additions.
lesh
Jun 16, 2017 at 6:21 AM
Comment #64Bambams, Shirebrook
I’d read about this some months ago and that he was put in to ease the load on Charnley my helping on the finance side.
I suspect that with all the talk about investors that financials need to be ‘run past’ this guy is the reason for the lack of signings so far. Let’s hope it doesn’t choke Rafa off.
hibbit
Jun 16, 2017 at 6:58 AM
Comment #65i won’t be surprised if Ashley’s gone by the end of of the month
if he’s going to sell nows the time when the clubs at the top of the market this is when he will achieve the price he wants and Barns is here to make sure he does
lochinvar
Jun 16, 2017 at 7:23 AM
Comment #66Bambams highlighted Ashley bringing In Barnes as a deal maker. Had a problem with that link so try this one
http://www.themag.co.uk/2017/06/mike-ashley-brings-new-man-newcastle-united-lee-charnley/
Interesting that Barnes is a Brand Lawyer – that suggests to me that Charnley will focus on football matters with Rafa and that Barnes will be looking at product licensing, retail, stakeholders, sponsorship etc to maximise revenues. That in turn supports Rafa’s player investment plans. Beyond that Barnes may be working with the Chinese a sort of Secret Squirrel to compliment our own Mr. Penfold