While rife with frustration, Newcastle are making progress in the early stages of the summer window. Nick Pope looks set to become Eddie Howe’s second summer signing behind Matt Targett, whose loan was made permanent earlier this month.
Once Pope puts pen to paper the spending will hit around £22m, though Freddie Woodman’s sale to Preston North End for an undisclosed fee will offset that amount. Isaac Hayden has also departed for Norwich City on loan with a view to a permanent deal.
Galway United’s Alex Murphy has been added to the academy. The teenage left-back will arrive in July as he continues to get experience playing in the SSE Airtricity League First Division. He started Galway’s 5-1 win at Bray Wanderers over the weekend.
The Athletic recently revealed that Newcastle have won the race for Kilmarnock’s Charlie McArthur. An agreement has been reached for £350k with personal terms already settled. His arrival will hopefully be confirmed soon.
Newcastle are making progress and it just takes a breakthrough for Hugo Ekitike or Sven Botman to change the complexity completely. The Magpies continue to lead the chase for the duo and hopefully, patience will pay off in the end.
63 comments so far
Dubloon
Jun 22, 2022 at 1:57 PM
Comment #41Cheers lads. Still a few familiar names around by the look of it
DrGloom
Jun 22, 2022 at 2:02 PM
Comment #42So presuming Pope signing has no problems we’ll have two toon players at least at the WC this year 🙂
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 22, 2022 at 2:02 PM
Comment #43Dubloon
Welcome back lad, always good to have a strong contingent of Irish Mags too (I’m from Omagh Co.Tyrone myself) so good to have you back.
Re Collins, do you reckon he’d cost as much as the £30m being touted for Botman? I’d have thought we could nab him for half that price. I don’t think he’s for leaving Burnley though and will likely be a key player for them going forward.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jun 22, 2022 at 2:08 PM
Comment #44So here’s a question for you guys
I see West Ham are in the hunt for Broja from Chelsea for 30 million (apparently)
Now he is a year older than Ettike and already has a year in the premier league
Who would you rather have?
Personally I would prefer Broja he just looks like he will be another player Chelsea regret selling tailor made to be a premier league no9 he is like a faster more mobile Mitrovic without the discipline issues 🙂
Mund
Jun 22, 2022 at 2:13 PM
Comment #45Ekitike for me all day long.
This lad has got something special
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 22, 2022 at 2:13 PM
Comment #46LCBP
He’s young and has got potential, is physical and mobile with decent feet but he’s an entirely different type of player to Ekitike. Yes, he’s only 20 but 6 PL goals in a side like Southampton who create a good few chances is pretty poor – his shots-on-target and goal conversion stats bear this out.
Also, the comparison to Mitrovic does him no favours as I am one of the (seemingly few) Newcastle fans who think Mitrovic is a puffed up prima donna who will never make it in the PL but hey ho! haha
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 22, 2022 at 2:16 PM
Comment #47LCBP,
Obviously had a keen eye on him having him in and out of my FPL team, he didn’t do hardly anything in that second half of the season and his good finishing just deserted him. If Chelsea are selling for just £30M after getting shot of Lukaku then there’s a reason.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jun 22, 2022 at 2:17 PM
Comment #48@Ruddy
Ha ha Mitrovic does have some good skills he is just far too slow to make it at premier league level but Broja has the pace that you need
Obviously being 20 they will have ups and downs but there was times last season where watching him you were like this guy could be the real deal
@Mund
Yeah Ettike does have potential I do worry he might not do as well in the premier league for a good bit
As a compromise could we not sign both? Ettike as striker and cover for ASM and Broja cover for Wilson 🙂
Tyran21
Jun 22, 2022 at 2:18 PM
Comment #49Lee Charnley Bunga Party
I’m with you. Broja seems to be a safer bet. 2 of Ekitike’s goals came from penalty, which will bring him close to Ekitike’s output. Although Broja played more games, it is a harder league to score goals too.
ITUNDERASHELL
Jun 22, 2022 at 2:21 PM
Comment #50“Now, Fonte has suggested that Newcastle are in pole position to sign his teammate”.
On Wednesday morning, Fonte was asked about Botman’s future prior to going on air on talkSPORT. According to presenter Jim White, Fonte responded: “Watch out for Newcastle on that one.”
https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/sven-botmans-teammate-drops-big-hint-about-newcastle-united-transfer-targets-next-club-3741480
ShaytoStay
Jun 22, 2022 at 2:21 PM
Comment #51Personally o think we could do with Broja and ekitike, different types of strikers, both with massive potential
Tyran21
Jun 22, 2022 at 2:23 PM
Comment #52Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Another thing I want next season to start is the friendly banter among posters, like “See, I told you blahblahblah is good/bad”. Minus the name-calling insults of course.
Mund
Jun 22, 2022 at 2:23 PM
Comment #53I’m not a huge fan of Broja
Seems like a flash in the pan kind of player
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Jun 22, 2022 at 2:26 PM
Comment #54Well, at least I may presume G is a grown up. Apparently happy to be a nanney.
Davas
Jun 22, 2022 at 2:28 PM
Comment #55Good solid signings in Pope and Targett.
When are Botman and Ekitike back from their holidays?
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Jun 22, 2022 at 2:28 PM
Comment #56I have now done an alt alt so I will argue with myself. saves time, and time is kibbles
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Jun 22, 2022 at 2:32 PM
Comment #57Davas. Just a quick question, for a Frenchie.
You get paid 3 or 4 also.. times your current wages if you sign now. Drag out the signing for 3 months losing all that extra money Do not want to be here and I don’t want either You are in or out. They are out,
CLINT FLICK
Jun 22, 2022 at 2:34 PM
Comment #58Lee
As someone who doesn’t other teams much, I’d just say…borja hasn’t made it onto my radar.
Make of that what you will.
So, na!
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 22, 2022 at 2:35 PM
Comment #59LCBP
I can see the appeal with Broja, and was keeping an eye on him if I ever caught a Southampton game, but I can’t help but feel he flatters to deceive. Same as Che Adams, both big strong physical lads with pace who cause defenders issues until they’re in a position to pull the trigger and more often than not they spoof the chance. Perhaps he’ll settle as he matures but £30m outlay on a player like him is risky.
Ekitike, while yes playing in a weaker league, a lot of his goals came from timing his runs into the box and having the IQ of knowing where to be – you can’t teach that. You either have it or you don’t. He’s also calm in tight spaces, gets the ball out of feet lightning quick and is a tidy finisher. If he bulks up and adjusts to the physicality of the Premier League he’ll be a very tidy player. Ekitike all day for me.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 22, 2022 at 2:37 PM
Comment #60Tyran
90% of the time we all get on just fine on the blog, the banter is good and the chat is great. 10% of the time it kicks off and is a bit unpleasant but such is life. We’re all Toon fans, want what’s best for the club and have our own strong views on players, tactics, transfers, etc. We’re all in the same boat here mate HWTL
Nufc 4ever
Jun 22, 2022 at 2:40 PM
Comment #61Well after been told on here and other blogs we were the problem for buying season tickets under fatman we were the problem.
I won’t lose any sleep if these people are unable to get one.
He who laughs last laughs longest
Davas
Jun 22, 2022 at 2:42 PM
Comment #62Sir P
I have no idea whether he wants to be here or not. Its all paper/itk talk at the moment but maybe his contract wouldn’t start till July 1st anyway. Who knows?
Dubloon
Jun 22, 2022 at 2:54 PM
Comment #63Ruddy, I think that’s the problem and why he’d cost near as much as Botman. He’s young, probably content to do a year or two in the champ if needs be and Burnley will want to build around him. If you could get him for £20 I’d do it, beyond that it gets very risky. Frenchies have bigger need to sell than Burnley I think. Even with burnleys debt issues I think that French tv deal falling through caused more problems. They’re clearing out a lot of players
Does watching ekitike highlights remind anyone else of Peter crouch? Far more skilful and smarter runs but the lad just looks so skinny ?