A number of fans have expressed some concerns about our lack of transfer business so far this summer, especially when we hear that Rafa was hoping to have up to five players in by now – and we’ve been guilty of some of that.
But we all have to be a little patient and it’s a really difficult task that Rafa and Lee Charnley and his team have to bring in up to say seven first team players, but also get rid of a number of players who have no futures at Newcastle.
It’s a lot more difficult than even last summer, when both men did an absolutely stellar job for the club.
Rafa Benitez – huge task with the help of Lee Charnley this summer
But they can still get the job done
The news over the last few days is that we are finding it hard to compete with some mid-table Premier League clubs mainly because of being down below and missing out on the huge payouts in the first year of the new Premier League £5.1B TV rights deal.
We cannot do anything about that now – that’s water under the Tyne Bridge – but we are back in the Premier League and we have to realize Rafa and Lee have an extremely difficult task on their hands this summer – but can still get the job done.
The good news is that Newcastle have seemed to have ratcheted things up in the transfer market since Rafa returned last Monday to take preseason training and we are being linked with some good players and reported to be trying to make deals for a number of them.
Here are some of the players we are reported to be after:
- Adama Traore – the latest news is that we are negotiating with Middlesbrough on a possible swap deal with goalkeeper Karl Darlow going the other way and if we can pull this one off it would be a very good deal for both clubs.
- Andreas Samaris – we are negotiating with Benfica and trying to get closer to a deal with Newcastle still around about £3M short of Benfica’s valuation of Samaris at £17.5M, but it’s reported this player is one of Rafa’s top targets this summer and the manager wants the deal closed.
- Andros Townsend – there’s news in the Croydon Advertiser today that Newcastle are about to make their move for our former winger, who excelled under Rafa Benitez in the first half of last year.
We are assuming Andros still has a £13M release clause in his contract and with today’s crazy transfer fees he would be a great deal for us – and that’s the fee we got from Crystal Place for him last summer. - Jota – in what could be a surprise signing, it’s reported that Rafa Benitez is after the Brentford playmaker who has recently played in La Liga and we were first linked with Jota (full name Jose Ignacio Peleteiro Ramallo) in mid-June.
That’s when Sky Sports reported the Newcastle manager was interested in signing his fellow countryman. There’s a possibility that we could sign this player soon, although other clubs are also in for him. - Bas Dost – Newcastle have reportedly bid £35M for the Sporting Lisbon striker but the Lisbon club want to full £53M in his release clause – and that seems far too much for Newcastle this summer at least.
The Chronicle are reporting today that maybe the money available to Rafa is only around £70M and not the £100M or more that had been reported earlier in the summer.
Rafa wants up to another five first team players brought in after we have already signed Christian Atsu and Florian Lejeune – and we cannot really spend £35M on one player – not this summer anyway.
So there’s five good players Newcastle seem to be in for at the moment – and it would be great if we can say get a couple of them through the door in the next week.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
189 comments so far
Jib
Jul 8, 2017 at 6:39 PM
Comment #81In this case
Newcastle avança com 20 milhões por Samaris
means
increases their offer to €20m
Ron Knee
Jul 8, 2017 at 6:45 PM
Comment #82Thank you, Jib.
Jib
Jul 8, 2017 at 6:51 PM
Comment #83http://beta.goal.com/en-sg/news/transfer-news-the-latest-rumours-from-man-utd-chelsea/1ijxy6duxafnx1caye4iltfxog
Quite a bit of interesting stuff on this
Mister Tuff
Jul 8, 2017 at 6:53 PM
Comment #84jib – you are quoting euros – but all the press last week were saying we had bid £17.5 million – which would be about the same amount.
Have we signed him or not?
bettyswallocks
Jul 8, 2017 at 6:58 PM
Comment #85Jib……. Mister Tuff raises a valid point there. All these reports of us making offers for players in foreign languages and in foreign currencies are all relevant I suppose to some degree but what the f..k is actually happening.Can you tell us please.
Jib
Jul 8, 2017 at 7:03 PM
Comment #86https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuUy2ShGLyo
Jib
Jul 8, 2017 at 7:05 PM
Comment #87Sorry chaps that link was for Ron
Just a mo’
Jib
Jul 8, 2017 at 7:17 PM
Comment #88Everton bid £14 million on Wednesday which was rejected and we are in the process of offering his buy out amount of €20 m which equates to £17,690,000
Ron Knee
Jul 8, 2017 at 7:18 PM
Comment #89Jib
What happened to Tom Browne:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_5iCs20VMg
Krul To Be Kind
Jul 8, 2017 at 7:44 PM
Comment #90In all honesty I think we have a massive squad and I believe the hold up is getting rid of more deadwood to make room in the camp for newbies so I’m not too disheartened at the lack of signings at the moment, but I am concerned about the lack of outgoing to create the space in the squad.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if Saviet makes the squad because of his versatility, if I remember rightly he started as a winger when he broke into the Bordeaux side and came back from a very bad injury as a central midfielder. He was a great prospect as a youngster until the injury but he can play anywhere competently from to DM to ST including both wings. He wasn’t given a chance when he arrived and had a mediocre season last year at St Etienne by all accounts but I personally wouldn’t write him off just yet.
Phil K
Jul 8, 2017 at 7:50 PM
Comment #91Nobody in their right mind (apart from bloody Graham Carr) would touch Riviere or Saivet or Haideira with a barge pole
We’re stuck with them until their contracts run out and thats exactly what will happen.
Many of the others we’ll have to let go for free.
Its why we were relegated in the first place
AncientC
Jul 8, 2017 at 7:59 PM
Comment #92Perhaps Herr Nickson will turn out to be our greatest scout yet… can he teach Ashley the Spandau Ballet?
posada
Jul 8, 2017 at 8:07 PM
Comment #93Bite the bullet and pay Riviere, Saivet, Hadaira and SDJ to leave.
Only thing is we may as well leave it until late in the window.
As free agents they would still be able to get clubs even if the window was closed.
Salmon
Jul 8, 2017 at 8:17 PM
Comment #94Not sure why some surprised about the possible departure of Darlow.Lacks a lot of attributes that a GK should have.5m offer is a lot for me. I’d snap their hands off and use it to bring Casilla or Karius.
As for Adama Traore,
he’s ok the way I saw him in the poor Boro side but lacks end product as mentioned.
Prefer better than him like Boudebouz or Townsend but the way things are,the chances of these type of players coming looks slim and dim.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 8, 2017 at 8:23 PM
Comment #95You know what, if I what a Newky player and was reading this blog, I’d be thinking who the hell are they calling deadwood.
Bit of an insult, is it not?
Think I’d want to prove otherwise! ie. DeJong, Saivet et-all.
Ron Knee
Jul 8, 2017 at 8:27 PM
Comment #96EGB
It’ll be interesting to see in pre-season which of the deadwood – if any – manage to convince Rafa they’re worth using.
ronaldo aarons
Jul 8, 2017 at 8:35 PM
Comment #97Everton supposedly put a price tag of £25 million on McCarthy the absolute tools. £20 million in January to £25m now despite not playing and being injured. If it’s true that they’ve bid for samaris then I imagine it’s in place of McCarthy. Hope we don’t have any interest in him as he’s a poor player with injury problems now. Thinks it’s funny that they think he’s more valuable than samaris yet want rid.
Mister Tuff
Jul 8, 2017 at 8:36 PM
Comment #98EGB – any player is lucky they do not post on the blog – deadwood would be like a compliment in comparison to some of the abuse thrown around on here
ronaldo aarons
Jul 8, 2017 at 8:38 PM
Comment #99Lol I imagine the stick dummett would get if he ever posted on here!
ronaldo aarons
Jul 8, 2017 at 8:43 PM
Comment #100https://mobile.twitter.com/LeeEvans85/status/882575953070669824
This tweet had me in stitches lol. Lascelles giving lejuene some vital instructions in training 🙂
jimmysmith
Jul 8, 2017 at 8:49 PM
Comment #101I think part of Rafa’s brief will be to try and use players such as DeJong, Saivet and Haidarra, who are capable but who might prove tough to shift. Squad players who can come in as cover allowing us to focus on bringing in the four or five real quality starters we need, although De Jong may be more involved. The only player we have I think that can’t potentially figure is Rivierre, but even he has top notch attributes despite an inability to score which surely must exclude him at this level. We’ll have to incorporate a number of players that ideally we’d like to move on but can’t. That surely is just part of the reality of our and Rafa’s circumstance.
Our Toon
Jul 8, 2017 at 9:09 PM
Comment #102I like the idea of letting darlow go, I’ve said from the beginning that he’s pants, has errors in him and his shot stopping isn’t that good. If we get an experienced keeper as a replacement like Reina then we will be better off whilst making money in the process
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 8, 2017 at 9:12 PM
Comment #103Jimmy
I reckon your’e right, a lot of the so called deadwood might well figure prominently in our side next season.
They don’t have to be ‘A’ stream players if they are under the right management and guidance, look what Cloughie done at Derby and Notts Forest.
That’s one reason I feel the present squad + plus some additions will be OK.
Of course a Ronaldo or Messi!!!
Jib
Jul 8, 2017 at 9:12 PM
Comment #104ronaldo aarons
Two successive posts
Do you have something against footballers from Newcastle ?
Are you perhaps a mackem ?
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 8, 2017 at 9:14 PM
Comment #105Ronaldo, I reckon Dummett would get a lot of praise nevermind stick.
Mister Tuff
Jul 8, 2017 at 9:21 PM
Comment #106woah – Jib on the attack.
CALLING BLOG INTERVENTIONISTS: CALLING BLOG INTERVENTIONISTS please attend the blog immediately to rebuke Jib for attacking a fellow poster. Your attendance and swift rebuke will restore confidence in that you are fair minded and do not practice favouritism to your cronies.
Colombus
Jul 8, 2017 at 9:38 PM
Comment #107Wolfsburg just bought Camacho. Estimated 10 million euros. Cant believe we didnt try to get him 🙁
Krul To Be Kind
Jul 8, 2017 at 9:50 PM
Comment #108Philk
What have you seen of Saviet and haidara really to judge so harshly?
Jib
Jul 8, 2017 at 9:51 PM
Comment #109Mr Tuff is it true that you drive to France because you
fear flying and that’s why your Aussie friends have to come
to Gateshead if they want to see you.
What is it diddums? That howwid turbulence or the tewwible noise of
those huge jet thingies.
Krul To Be Kind
Jul 8, 2017 at 9:51 PM
Comment #110And I am leaving out riviera in that question because he is downright indefensible at the top level! 🙂
Krul To Be Kind
Jul 8, 2017 at 9:54 PM
Comment #111Jib
I sense you’re being a tad facetious?
Krul To Be Kind
Jul 8, 2017 at 10:00 PM
Comment #112And since I’m here alone I might also add I’m glad to read Jesper doing fatherhood again and also to Ed, I pray for your fight and I’m so glad you keep churning out the articles and fighting back!
GeordieTwo
Jul 8, 2017 at 10:25 PM
Comment #113Now that you’re back in action Tsunki we’ll have you do some light spritzing on the old bobsled mate. And you don’t have to say thanks to beermonkey for spraying fire retardant foam on your heed mate. It’s what beermonkey is good at. Hoy beermonkey! Have you re-grouted that vacuum chamber yet? No, I’ll handle the hard stuff today. And keep your hands off that grease gun….. Unbelievable……
GeordieTwo
Jul 8, 2017 at 10:31 PM
Comment #114Silence pig dogs! Herr Hickson has further directives for us!
Herr Hickson: very well then. You want signings do you? You want us to spend wildly for you then? Is that it you little swines? You want control of ze club? Is that it? We have control! We will beat some discipline into you! Who has mein fongbat? Lee, can you get mein fongbat please. Yesssss, I will make an example of someone…. Let me sssseeeee. You! You with the nasty looking thong on! Step forward!!!!
optimistic prime
Jul 8, 2017 at 10:31 PM
Comment #115Who says????
Some foreign journo, must be true, was it in El Sun or Le Mirror?
Its all bollocks until they’re at sjp in black n white.
optimistic prime
Jul 8, 2017 at 10:35 PM
Comment #116EGB
Theres some dead wood on this blog!
GeordieTwo
Jul 8, 2017 at 10:35 PM
Comment #117Spot on Krul mate.
GeordieTwo
Jul 8, 2017 at 10:37 PM
Comment #118Herr Hickson: Und furzermore the dead wood will be used to beat you all! We will take ze dead wood and we will fong you nasty, nasty supporters until you beg for mercy!!! That is all……
welshgeordie9
Jul 8, 2017 at 10:47 PM
Comment #119Love the fact that the ones that calling people deadwood are the ones that are really boring.
You couldn’t make it up.
welshgeordie9
Jul 8, 2017 at 10:48 PM
Comment #120Times ticking to get players in before the Spurs game.
Tick Tock.