Newcastle reportedly had a transfer budget of £50m plus the money from any player sales this summer. Ayoze Perez’s £30m release clause was activated by Leicester City earlier this month while Joselu left in a £2.5m deal to La Liga’s Alaves a few weeks ago.
These two deals should have brought Newcastle’s transfer kitty to £82.5m. A nice sum to make some real progress this window and give Steve Bruce as much help as he will need to give the squad at least a fighting chance this season.
Joelinton– a good start but still the only first-team singing
Yet, here we stand with a week and a half to go in the window and only one first-team player has been signed. While we will not say it is the same old story as Newcastle have spent up to £40m on striker Joelinton which is certainly not like the Newcastle we know.
However, that is just one player when the squad is in desperate need of at least four more. News through the past week has been that Newcastle are very close to signing Nice’s Allan Saint-Maximin and Paris Saint-Germain’s Stanley N’Soki.
Allan Saint-Maximin tweeted the following image yesterday of him coming on in Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Cardiff.
#OGCNice pic.twitter.com/6tFUzc5HQN
— Allan Saint-Maximin (@asaintmaximin) July 27, 2019
There is news this morning that Stanley N’Soki will be in PSG’s squad for tomorrow’s friendly against Sydney FC.
? Squad confirmed for tomorrow's match ? @SydneyFC
? Suzhou
LINK ? https://t.co/mu2TT57Xwh
?? #AllezParis pic.twitter.com/BMDDmEAX1z
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) July 29, 2019
So it appears that both deals may not be as close as recently reported. News yesterday was that a fee of £9.8m had been agreed for N’Soki but that now does not seem to be the case.
This happens every window when Newcastle dither about with fees that often skirt the asking price of a player instead of just giving the extra few million pounds to ensure the deal is completed. This is happening again and it’s really burned the club in the past. They never learn.
By our reckoning, there is at least £42.5m in the transfer budget. Get Allan Saint-Maximin in for £20m of that if he is truly the top target. Or go for Hull City’s Jarrod Bowen. While £20m is a high price, the price of failing to get one of these targets “over the line” is much steeper.
We cannot rely on the returning players who spent last season on loan which is what we fear may be the thinking of the Newcastle hierarchy at the moment. They are just not good enough and if they were they would have been here last season when we had a thin squad.
We don’t doubt they are trying to bring players in but their resolve to be so ridiculously stubborn is just asinine. Buy it happens every window.
We are happy with Kyle Scott and Jake Turner, who were announced this morning. But they are years away. Unless the club want to use them in the Championship next season, then they need to get some upgrades over the line.
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47 comments so far
toon22
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:22 PM
Comment #1Don’t you mean
Business as usual?
#if the cap fits#
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:24 PM
Comment #2is Steve Wraith a mackem . pretty sure i heard a mackem twang on the clip/video …
one fine day
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:26 PM
Comment #3Bit of a write up in the mag about rangers fans offering support to our groups .
Hope they accept
They seemed very organised and coordinated in there protests .
Think we could learn a lot from them .
Stronger together n all that .
#BleachTheLeech
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:31 PM
Comment #4ofd
It’s been discussed mate
Sad Frog II
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:34 PM
Comment #5Something new here, maybe no relegation batyle and we can compete against bottom 3?
one fine day
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:35 PM
Comment #6Bleach
Great
I know genikai mentioned it
Was a great podcast a few months back on TF with two of the main guys behind the Rangers protests .
Seemed very switched on about the best ways to hurt SD
#BoycottAshley
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:37 PM
Comment #7Well done to the lads at TMG, giving up time and throwing their own money into it to get the ball rolling.
Actions not talking.
#BoycottAshley
one fine day
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:41 PM
Comment #8Op
Have they set up a go fund me page ?
If so has anyone got a link ?
Jib
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:44 PM
Comment #9http://gofundjibneedsdosh.com
Slatymag
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:45 PM
Comment #10Has the £40m fee for Joelinton been confirmed anywhere? Didn’t some club get a sell on percentage? It’d probably be easier to ask that club rather than NUFC. I’d like to know if it was the amount the press/club claim.
Nitpicking but you really can’t trust a single thing they say.
one fine day
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:46 PM
Comment #11Very good jib can only imagine what use you’d put the funds too:)
Genjikai
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:47 PM
Comment #12Ofd not yet mate.
All will be be happening very soon.
Just waiting on getting something setup.
carltoon
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:50 PM
Comment #13Tony Bleach the Leach. Posted the link on last page.
#BoycottAshley
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:50 PM
Comment #14Ofd
Not yet, the lads involved are funding it until we get accounts sorted this week.
We a wanted to get stuff out there asap so instead of waiting for donations we’ve all chipped in to get the ball rolling.
MarkBro
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:52 PM
Comment #15Always business as usual
Tick tock
Mike got far too many concerning problems that us
one fine day
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:53 PM
Comment #16Genikai
Thanks man
I like the idea of Rangers getting on board too .
Ashley watching his empire crumble ,and his two worst nightmares hammering him on both sides of the border
toon22
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:55 PM
Comment #17Rangers fans statement: Pledge to work with Newcastle fans against ‘malign influence’ of Mike Ashley
https://www.themag.co.uk/2019/07/rangers-fans-statement-pledge-to-work-with-newcastle-fans-against-malign-influence-of-mike-ashley-newcastle-united/
We would also take this opportunity to express our sympathy with Newcastle fans who find their own club suffering under Mr Ashley’s ownership.
We have made approaches to a number of their supporters’ groups to discuss ways in which we can work together to challenge Mr Ashley and Sports Direct in what we believe is a matter of shared interest.
#BoycottAshley
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:55 PM
Comment #18Rangers fans will definitely jump on board
The merchandising deal they have with SD will likely see them go bust again this year.
#BoycottAshley
toon22
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:57 PM
Comment #19Analysts and investors were scathing over the company and sceptical of its attempts to move the business away from its “pile ’em high, sell’em cheap” strategy by revamping stores to attract better quality brands.
Peel Hunt analyst Jonathan Pritchard said the “home truths about the core Sports Direct business were pretty shocking and management seems to be out of ideas”.
He added: “We are disappointed how Friday played out but it’s far more worrying that Sports Direct now seems to be strategically snookered, checkmated and clean bowled. The shares are hard to value, but are surely only for the very brave.”
Investors also slated the running of the business for an amateurish and confrontational approach to the City since floating in 2007.
Aviva Investors’ David Cumming told the BBC: “Sports Direct is almost a case study in failed corporate governance. Anyone who cares about proper oversight, control and governance of the CEO shouldn’t really be an investor in this company.”
https://www.standard.co.uk/business/fiasco-at-sports-direct-wallops-mike-ashley-for-83m-a4200486.html
lesh
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:58 PM
Comment #20According to the Chron, the fee for N’soki or whatever’s agreed. There’s supposed to be quite a gap in personal terms required and offered. And, the lad’s off to China with his club tour
If Charmless been talking to the lad for some time why are his terms such a sticking point now?
What makes me think that Mikey boy might have doesn’t really want to spend the money he promised? When will the penny drop with Brucie?
Toonces
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:58 PM
Comment #21Bill’s
Thought you had quit the blog? Couldn’t stay away obviously.
So your first post here after your melodramatic, and disrespectful to Ed & family, exit from the blog is to come back and whinge about the banner?
Your first post should be an apology to them for the utter garbage you spewed. Jump to conclusions much? No one was banned as you claimed they would be. No one was singled out as you claimed they were. And then you throw a backhanded threat at Ed and family that if this blog was UK based they would be sued for libel. Disgusting.
I was sympathetic to you in regards to some of the attention your positions you take would focus on you but you no more. Don’t see how anyone could ever take you seriously again on here or discuss something in good faith with you.
Hopefully you have sent some apology in private to them at least because I doubt you have the balls to do it in public on the blog.
In case you forgot what you posted…. and some of the replies that you ignored.
……………..
Bills Son Is Back
Jul 29, 2019 at 11:56 AM
Comment #155
Ed/Neil,
Why is Rafa’s picture still on the blog?
Like it or not he’s history.
If you haven’t got the balls to put Bruce’s picture up at least take Rafa’s off for a player or the fan’s celebrating a goal.
The longer you leave Rafa’s picture up the sillier it gets..
…………………………………….
Bills Son Is Back
Jul 24, 2019 at 9:48 PM
Comment #23
Tony,
You have spouted no more $hite than the 95% of people your posts have been aimed at.
To be singled out by Neil is an absolute disgrace to the impartiality and fair mindedness of the editors of this blog.
Keep posting, and don’t change your tune.
If Ed and Neil want a subservient pandering blog let them ban everyone who challenges the views of the mob.
toon22 is getting away with libel every day and has he been warned??
Neil, has he?
……………………………
Bills Son Is Back
Jul 24, 2019 at 10:11 PM
Comment #38
Tell you what,
It’s bad enough listening to the bile from the mob on here when posting an alternative view…,
But now we are fighting against the blog editor who supports the mob.
Absolute disgrace.
Neil, you’ve made one massive mistake.
Of Trump proportions.
……………………
Bills Son Is Back
Jul 24, 2019 at 10:16 PM
Comment #43
Sports Direct FC — its Neil’s and Ed’s blog. they can warn or ban anyone for any reason or no reason at all.
That’s right,
But this is supposed to be a supporters blog, not a “we hate Ashley and the club is a fck up blog”.
If that’s what they want it to be I’m outa here.
Neil,
What about toon22??
You reckon he is the type of poster you tolerate.
Answer the question.
Please.
…………………….
Neil Harrison
Jul 24, 2019 at 10:21 PM
Comment #47
Bill’s Son,
I have simply asked that people be more considerate in their interactions to other posters. We have contacted a few posters cordially and received very positive responses from them. No one has been contacted due to their specific views. It is simply a matter of tone and respect.
…………………………
Bills Son Is Back
Jul 24, 2019 at 10:28 PM
Comment #56
Tony,
I’ll admit you can go on a bit (as I can),
But your posts pale into comparison to toon22 who has been called out repeatedly by blog members for his incessant ranting of the same old stuff – often posting 4/5/6 repetitive rants on the trot and accusing everyone with an opposite view of being a KBA PR merchant or an Ashley arse licker, or both.
I’ve never once read a post of his that has anything whatsoever to do with players, tactics or football.
Not once.
I’ll say it again, it’s an absolute disgrace to a democratic blog that you have been singled out and toon22 hasn’t.
Neil, answer my previous question.
Please.
……………………………
Bills Son Is Back
Jul 24, 2019 at 10:36 PM
Comment #75
Neil, just seen your last post.
Are you happy for toon22 to continue making the posts he does?
If you were British based I think you would be running a serious risk of contributing to, land being sued for, libel.by Ashley.
There is banter, arguments and name calling, that’s normal on social media…
But toon22 is making seriously derogatory and libellous comments about all and sundry.
You should give him/her a final warning or a ban.
…………………………….
Bills Son Is Back
Jul 24, 2019 at 10:49 PM
Comment #101
Neil’s calling out of Tony B could be a Ratner prawn sandwich moment for the blog.
It is for me.
I’m not posting again on a NUFC ‘sipporters’ blog that supports the crap written by toon22 and his supporters.
Or Ed and Neil writing threads which deliberately set out to incite their bile.
I’ll be no loss.
But neither will this blog to me.
HWTL.
Finish in the top 10 and RAM THE BILE BACK DOWN THE NEGGERS THROATS.
……………………………….
Tony Baloney
Jul 25, 2019 at 2:01 AM
Comment #281
Actually Online Guy I was sent a follow up post by Neil/Ed saying they weren’t singling me out.
………………………………………
The Wife
Jul 25, 2019 at 2:05 AM
Comment #283
GeordieTwo – Are you in the “mustard must be applied onto the cheese” camp? That’s my one hard rule in sandwich making, haha.
I hope that once the season starts proper, and matches are substantially more meaningful, people can find more common ground here on the blog. As far as I know, no one is going to be banned, by the way.
Good night, everyone.
toon22
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:58 PM
Comment #22The Rangers fans need to find out about those two small roundabouts in Shirebrook
Its Jabbas soft point
one fine day
Jul 29, 2019 at 2:58 PM
Comment #23Op
Nice one
Genikai has my e mail for once it is set up
Want to help even if not able to be there in person .
barkel
Jul 29, 2019 at 3:02 PM
Comment #24Slatymag
The fee we paid hasn’t been confirmed but Hoffenheim did say that it was a club record. Firminos fee was reportedly somewhere between 29-37mil
#BoycottAshley
Jul 29, 2019 at 3:03 PM
Comment #25Jib@9
If that’s for a personality transplant I’ll hoi you a few quid.
one fine day
Jul 29, 2019 at 3:04 PM
Comment #26So has bills son gone back to grace co.uk again ?:)
swemag
Jul 29, 2019 at 3:04 PM
Comment #27Harry Wilson please, bring him in.
English, young, brilliant left foot, the price quoted is reasonable.
Get him now!
Jib
Jul 29, 2019 at 3:10 PM
Comment #28Joelinton’s old club in Brazil – Sport Club do Recife
gets a few quid from Hoffenheim which is nice cos
they are a bit hard up at the moment.
#BoycottAshley
Jul 29, 2019 at 3:11 PM
Comment #29OFD
Well done mate.
Every little actions is another straw added to the pile until the fat mans back breaks.
Slatymag
Jul 29, 2019 at 3:15 PM
Comment #30@barkel
Cheers.
Jib
Jul 29, 2019 at 3:16 PM
Comment #31The EC
Former Newcastle forward Aleksandar Mitrovic has labelled Magpies owner Mike Ashley a ‘good guy’ and believes he will invest money in United’s playing squad this summer
Jib
Jul 29, 2019 at 3:18 PM
Comment #32https://www.insider.co.uk/news/mike-ashleys-annus-horribilis-sees-18795415
This will get toon22 excited
one fine day
Jul 29, 2019 at 3:20 PM
Comment #33Have to say it was good of bills son to get his prediction in for 2019/20 before leaving
Martoon take note …
“Finish in the top 10 and RAM THE BILE BACK DOWN THE NEGGERS THROATS.”
guess for top scorer he will be going with shola ?
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 29, 2019 at 3:24 PM
Comment #34Well he’d better pull his finger out, with only one player bought for cash so far!
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 29, 2019 at 3:26 PM
Comment #35Is it possible that he might not be a billionaire soon?
danishmag
Jul 29, 2019 at 3:28 PM
Comment #36I am going for last place..
20th in the coming season..
Between 15-25 points..
Topscorer Muto with 5 goals.
Player of the season Darlow as Dubravka will leave before season starts
hibbit
Jul 29, 2019 at 3:34 PM
Comment #37love this !!!!!!
https://twitter.com/NUFC360
toon22
Jul 29, 2019 at 3:35 PM
Comment #38Jib
Jul 29, 2019 at 3:18 PM
Comment #32
https://www.insider.co.uk/news/mike-ashleys-annus-horribilis-sees-18795415
This will get toon22 excited
😉
PonyBaloney
Jul 29, 2019 at 3:36 PM
Comment #39I would just like to say thank you for singling me out for greatness , yes I’m currently in Chicago – you can see by my avatar which is a photograph taken by myself at the park as I’m a keen photographer .. i go to all the games whenever I can because I love the Newcastle city team , I used to support the arsenal but I heard we have the best fans …
Come on the lads , up the United
RUNAWAY777
Jul 29, 2019 at 3:46 PM
Comment #40So now we get 2 freebies one Chelsea didnt not want and we have not got the normal Brazil player so he got no flare like most Brazilians you dont say did not look good when he came on so rafa was rite not worth the money no backing off this boycot lads ashley trying to get you back on side lads S.D is taken a nose dive so lets keep the presure on at the toon, hope Belgium take him to the cleaners too . So all toon fans need to up raise against ashley for the last time .