Newcastle are pursuing bargains this summer as Steve Bruce has had his transfer budget slashed in half to £30m. With a goal scorer being essential, he’s likely to spend the bulk of that bringing in a decent striker.
Bournemouth duo Callum Wilson and Josh King top the wishlist but both are in demand which could prompt a bidding war. So Newcastle will have to look to fill in some depleted areas on the cheap.
On Monday, there was a hint that free agent Jeff Hendrick could be on his way. The ex-Burnley midfielder will provide experience and cover.
Sassuolo left-back Rogerio has also re-emerged as a potential target. The Brazilian would likely cost less than £10m to bring in. We’re also still waiting on the status of Jetro Willems and whether Newcastle can get the Dutchman in on another loan deal or even permanently for a small outlay.
So Newcastle are going to be in the market for free agents and loan signings during this window. Just this past weekend, Liverpool’s Harry Wilson, a top target from last summer, and Chelsea starlet Conor Gallagher were linked as potential loan targets.
The Sun is now claiming that Tottenham’s Ryan Sessegnon (pictured above) tops Steve Bruce’s list of targets.
The 20-year-old has seen his career stall a bit since his big move to Spurs last summer. The former Fulham star made just 6 Premier League appearances last term and only 12 overall.
Jose Mourinho also didn’t play the left-sided wingback/midfielder at all after the league restarted in June handing Ben Davies starts in the final 9 games.
A serious ankle injury to Davies also was the primary reason Sessegnon got any starts in the league last season. He made all of his four league starts when Davies was out.
So according to the report, Bruce could be set to hand the England U21 international a lifeline. His versatility could be of benefit to Newcastle as he can play anywhere down the left but is a bit of a liability at full-back, especially in a back four.
However, he would add some quality on the left flank while not drastically affecting the transfer budget. So this move could make sense for all entities involved.
Note – here’s a petition to sign to get an independent review of the EPL Takeover process – please sign it – thanks.
169 comments so far
Kevin Vegan
Aug 10, 2020 at 11:41 PM
Comment #1The lad’s got loads of potential. Would be a quality signing. Needs games and will be happy for a loan move but a lot of clubs will be interested.
Kevin Vegan
Aug 10, 2020 at 11:46 PM
Comment #2Versitile player too, decent on the ball, passes and crosses well, good movement and scored some tidy goals in his time too. He could play anywhere on the left and still be of use.
FloridaToon
Aug 10, 2020 at 11:47 PM
Comment #3Here are some of the Premiers League’s sponsors
EA Sports
Barclays
Budweiser
Coca Cola
Nike
Tag Heuer
Avery Dennison
Panini
NY Mag
Aug 10, 2020 at 11:48 PM
Comment #4IrishRob,
Or they are supremely confident that they haven’t done anything wrong and therefore don’t have anything to answer too.
Not saying that this is the case, just giving an alternate view.
Munster Mag
Aug 10, 2020 at 11:51 PM
Comment #5Sessegnon can’t defend for toffee, probably worse defender than Willems
lesh
Aug 10, 2020 at 11:51 PM
Comment #6Is NUFC becomong a home for Sperz flops? How much are Sperz paying for the service?
Novocastrian66
Aug 10, 2020 at 11:52 PM
Comment #79; Stavely has gone on record stating that piracy was not an issue.
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/amanda-staveley-talks-piracy-issues-18691153
The PL have not made a statement to counteract what she has said.
Why not?
lesh
Aug 10, 2020 at 11:55 PM
Comment #8Ah, NY Mag…..and it’s not gone midnight.
As you’re here and I guess your not a Dylan fan, but because I’ve got this link on the clipboard…..
More buskers, this time doing Dylan with a very tiny suggestion of Hendrix.
https://youtu.be/-UHHc7POovg
Munster Mag
Aug 10, 2020 at 11:56 PM
Comment #9Just catching up lads, it’s interesting to read the different opinions of people on mbs, the PL, Amanda, the PIF etc.
Its unfortunate that those who have a different opinion to the majority are getting a huge amount of abuse.
Whats the point in giving such vitriol? What does it achieve? Let people have different opinions if they want, and stop the nasty stuff ffs.
lesh
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:00 AM
Comment #10?Essex
@71
Not knowing of The Learning People, a quick look at its website and two points jumped out at me.
25000 students worldwide. – Worldwide?!
Based in Brighton (it may be part of Brighton University, I don’t know but if it’s not….
You haven’t said what your son has in mind for his development, but the Open University’s been around a helluva long time, is established, credible and professional in the way it does what it does.
I’d suggest that he be aware of chancers – it’s his future, not the so called training companies’.
lesh
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:01 AM
Comment #11Re @10
Essex, reposted from a couple of threads back, because you asked a big question
NY Mag
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:04 AM
Comment #12Evening Lesh,
I hope you’re keeping well.
I’m not a Dylan fan as such, but I do like a lot of his songs.
And all along the watchtower I got into because U2 included a live cover of it on their rattle and hum album (I think it was that one anyway)
I do like those playing for change links though – keep ‘em coming 🙂
Munster Mag
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:05 AM
Comment #13NY, without pressure, the PL won’t answer anything. If a buyer walks away, there is nothing to discuss. I don’t know what the PIF are playing at, but I think we have1-2 weeks to get a PL statement or nothing may happen, and I doubt if 200k sigs will change that. We are now looking to PIF, Ashley and the political elite or its a dead rubber. The PL are horrible bustards, but why should they comment on a bid that was walked away from? No comment gives safety. That’s why we need pressure from the PM etc.
Kevin Vegan
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:14 AM
Comment #14Novo,
If the consortium got its way and the PIF was named, it’s likely that Mandy was right that they wouldn’t have fallen foul of any piracy allegations.
It seems the issue wasn’t with the PIF specifically, but with the Saudi state who own the PIF. Since the state was never named or investigated specifically, Mandy would legally not have any concerns about making a public statement that the issue that was causing the delay was not piracy.
She’s right: the issue that the PL were waiting to resolve was who would be named as director and who owned the majority of the club. There’s a very real chance that the reason the PL wanted the state named is because they wanted to investigate them for piracy, and having them named as owners would give them a good reason to conduct those investigations.
There’s also a good chance the Saudi state didn’t want to be named because they didn’t want to be investigated. The whole dispute with the WTO largely arose because they blocked Qatar’s attemoted investigations, so I can see why they would be wary of other investigations too.
There are lots of ways of interpreting Staveley’s words, but I’m not sure us working out precisely what she meant will get us any closer to a sale at this point.
NY Mag
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:32 AM
Comment #15Munster,
I wrote a really long winded answer to you and then deleted it because it was just waffle 🙂
Honestly, no one knows what’s gone/going on. We don’t know if the PL are correct or corrupt…..it’s a bit of a soap opera sadly.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:33 AM
Comment #16Lesh
Thanks for the response, have to admit the website didn’t fill me with confidence.
He’s not a youngster anymore and did a degree course at Uni but hasn’t really used it but does have the savvy to learn.
I need to have a sit down with him and go through the options before he commits to anything.
Must admit that open uni might be an option he hasn’t had a proper look at yet I’m sure we can sort something out.
Cheers anyway.
Novocastrian66
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:34 AM
Comment #17Bloody Hell Kev. The CIA with all it’s powers won’t be able to investigate the Saudi state never mind a bunch of jumped up pen pushers in the PL.
You know, if the PL could give a legitimate reason why they did not pass the test brilliant we can all dry our tears and move on.
The annoying thing is they have not and it would seem they are determined not to declare their reasons. One can only suspect the reason for their silence is that they do not have a legitimate reason and the only reason they have is that they do not want it to happen.
The PL don’t want it therefore they will not make a decision as a means to prevent the deal. This is a view I have held throughout the majority of this saga.
The governors are not fit for purpose yet they sit in judgement of others. Unbelievable.
woodey
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:37 AM
Comment #18KV, on what planet would a company like the premier be allowed to investigate a country… its never going to happen, can you imagine the uproar if this had been put to USA/Germany or even England. biggest murderers of recent times.
NY Mag
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:40 AM
Comment #19Novo,
I’m guessing here of course, but I would imagine that the PL have told the buyers exactly why they have not ‘passed it’….of course it would not suit the buyers to make that public.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:41 AM
Comment #20Wonder what happened at the Bojo/Saudi ambassador meeting,
I could just imagine him saying to Boris that his missus had asked him wtf was going on with the EPL and the takeover.
She is after all a Byker lass I believe!
Kevin Vegan
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:43 AM
Comment #21Novo
Hasn’t Staveley already told us what the issue was? The PL wanted the Saudi state named, the consortium wanted the PIF named, they reached an impasse and it stalled so the Saudis pulled out.
I don’t see what more we need the PL to say unless you think Staveley was lying. Maybe I’ve missed something here? Is there something else left to explain?
woodey
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:45 AM
Comment #22NY Mag, tbh i think most believe in the back of their minds that this deal is dead. But the point is now not the sale but the premier league itself,
To many things within this long running take over have shed a very bad light on them and questions need answering.
Kevin Vegan
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:45 AM
Comment #23Woodey
If the Saudi state wouldn’t allow itself to be investigated they are never going to be allowed to buy a club. It doesn’t matter who they are: they are not above the rules. Anything else would be corrupt to be honest. They can’t get special treatment because they’re wealthy.
FloridaToon
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:47 AM
Comment #24I believe Staveley said the PL wanted the Saudi state to be listed as a director and would just sit on it if they didn’t do it.
woodey
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:48 AM
Comment #25yes KV a state can not be named, its unheard off. and as you are starting to rinse and repeat the same words in another manner like normal. i am off to bed.
Kevin Vegan
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:52 AM
Comment #26Woodey
If it couldn’t be done then the PL would not have told them to do it. According to Staveley’s own version of events, the only thing stopping it from progressing was neither side being willing to budge on this issue, and the only reason the Saudis didn’t end up being named is because they didn’t want to. If it wasn’t ever possible it never would have been proposed.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:52 AM
Comment #27So
33 days to the KO for the new season and I’m expecting our first six games to be!
Liverpool, ManC, ManU, Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds with four of them being away.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:53 AM
Comment #28And on that optimistic note, G’dNight all.
Kevin Vegan
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:54 AM
Comment #29FloridaToon
That’s what I thought too. I hadn’t really realised that this wasn’t widely accepted, but it seems like there’s still a lot of people who want more answers. Or maybe just different answers? I’m not really sure.
Nicky the ball tosser
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:55 AM
Comment #30Surely they aren’t asking for the state to be named as a director, but an individual representing the state, in this case MBS, as chair of PIF and Crown Prince of KSA.
Can MBS be named as a director?
I think so, but seemingly is reluctant, and to be honest I’m not entirely sure why. He is the Chairman of the Saudi Public Investment Fund after all.
carltoon
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:56 AM
Comment #31Why should a football club which after all is a business, not be treated in the same way as arms deals or any other deal that’s been allowed between the two countries, why have other Arab countries been allowed to invest in other Premium League clubs. These are the questions I would like to be answered. Why not our club?
Munster Mag
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:56 AM
Comment #32NY mag, just as well you’re not here on the day shift or you would get a truck of abuse for what you said! BTW where’s the daughters partner from in Ireland?
woodey
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:57 AM
Comment #33ah ffs, ill get to bed yet…
KV “If it wasn’t ever possible it never would have been proposed”.
And there in itself you have your answer, you could read it as it was proposed because the premier league understood the Saudis would never agree, thus keeping the ” we wont say yes and we wont say no” Takeover strung along.
and now i must get to bed..
NY Mag
Aug 11, 2020 at 12:59 AM
Comment #34Woodey,
Fully understand what you are saying and, I agree – I would love to know what has gone on behind the scenes between the buyers/sellers/EPL.
However, I doubt there is any current EPL club owner that would want their business being transparent to the public.
I would also doubt that any future EPL club owner would want their business dealings conducted in public.
As fans, we demand answers – but, let’s be realistic here, what we are asking for has huge a precedent for the future.
Novocastrian66
Aug 11, 2020 at 1:04 AM
Comment #35Kev; Correct, however it is not within the remit of the PL to determine who the owners and directors are. The purchasers decide who they will be. The PL’s job is to buy that off or not. They have not done this. As Stavely has stated, the PL have neither agreed or disagreed. Now she is on the record, but the PL are not.
Why?
Kevin Vegan
Aug 11, 2020 at 1:04 AM
Comment #36Nicky
It’s a monarchy though.
In a monarchy, the royals ARE the state.
MBS is the acting head of state. They are inseperable.
It’s not like it is with elected governments where the individuals in power are going to be voted out and somebody else takes charge. By their own laws MBS basically has absolute authority over every political decision. I don’t see how it could work any other way.
I also don’t see why they would want it to work any other way unless they knew it would be more likely to fail or to lead to investigations if it was submitted on the PL’s terms.
NY Mag
Aug 11, 2020 at 1:06 AM
Comment #37Nicky,
I agree with you, I think the PL were asking for the ‘ultimate controlling person’ of the PIF to be named.
We’re in a little bit of a unique situation, in that a sovereign wealth fund has never acquired a PL club before
carltoon
Aug 11, 2020 at 1:08 AM
Comment #38Ooh The Mail exclusive, China have with held payment on 160 million deal with the PL.
NY Mag
Aug 11, 2020 at 1:10 AM
Comment #39Carltoon,
We could be sold, the PL cannot stop the sale going ahead. (They have no authority to stop a company being sold).
What they can do is suspend us from playing in the league. We’re in a private members club and have to abide by the rules, unfortunately 🙂
NY Mag
Aug 11, 2020 at 1:14 AM
Comment #40Munster,
Why do you think I stick to the night shift?
(Obviously it suits me to do that, but I have no wish to create animosity on purpose)
BTW, the lads from just outside of Dublin – not sure on the exact town/village name