The Athletic recently wrote a report in which it was predicted that free agents are going to be in vogue this summer.
The report cited comments from agents that suggested clubs will be looking for free transfers as well as bargains due to the havoc wreaked by the coronavirus on world economies.
Chris Waugh has followed up those claims in his report about Matty Longstaff’s contract stalemate asserting that Newcastle too will be watching the free agent market closely this summer.
Waugh says that Newcastle have a list of upcoming free agents that they are tracking, including a Premier League trio. This is what Chris writes in his report:
Newcastle are understood to have compiled a list of potential free transfers they are monitoring – Chelsea’s Olivier Giroud, Adam Lallana of Liverpool and Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser are all admired by Bruce, although that trio will have plenty of other suitors, too.
These are some lofty targets for Steve Bruce, all of which will likely command very high wages and, as Waugh states, will have plenty of other clubs after them.
Chelsea have recently opened talks to try and keep Giroud at the club for another season, possibly due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Ryan Fraser– Bruce covets the 26-year-old winger
Both Lallana and Giroud would be decent acquisitions for a couple of seasons. However, if Newcastle could convince Ryan Fraser, who just turned 26 in February, to join, that would be an outstanding signing.
The winger has been a reported target of Newcastle’s in the past but could be snapped up by one of the Premier League’s elite with both Liverpool and Arsenal zeroing in on him.
With the recent revelation that EPL clubs are in dire straights regarding their finances, mainly brought about through irresponsible transfer outlays, a move towards the free agent market makes a lot of sense.
This also makes the prospect of Matty Longstaff leaving his hometown club a real proposition. So Newcastle must re-examine their valuation of the 20-year-old under these new emerging circumstances.
3 comments so far
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Apr 12, 2020 at 8:10 PM
Comment #1Ashley’s always ahead of the curve, free signings have always been in vogue.
jazzyp
Apr 12, 2020 at 8:12 PM
Comment #2More fake news..Just Heard Covid 19 will feature in the papers tomorrow
jazzyp
Apr 12, 2020 at 8:15 PM
Comment #3Fraser to Arsenal.Giroud to Inter which leaves Lallana. We will end up with Abeid back