With the Premier League deadline already far gone and the European transfer window set to close at the end of this week, it’s time to reflect on how English clubs have performed during the summer. Newcastle were one of the Premier League’s most frugal spenders, keeping costs down to a minimum despite bringing in seven new names.
But does that represent shrewd business for the Tynside outfit or will they come to regret some of the decisions they’ve made in the transfer market? Football FanCast’s expert writers debate Newcastle’s biggest mistake of the summer transfer window…
Will Jones – Not enough firepower
“Trading one average, far-from-prolific centre-forward for another does not equal progress. Whilst Salomon Rondon, on paper, is a slightly better fit for the kind of system Rafa Benitez is playing with at St James’ Park, he’s still not of the standard befitting of the famous black and white No. 9 shirt on Tyneside.
“The fault for this does not lay with Benitez, but rather Mike Ashley, the club’s owner, who seems determined to reduce this north eastern powerhouse of English football to nothing more than a limp and lifeless mid-table outfit.
“For context, Brighton bagged Alireza Jahanbakhsh for the best part of £20million this summer. Huddersfield splashed out on Ramadan Sobhi and Adama Diakhaby to bolster their attack. Rondon on loan is not enough and epitomises Ashley’s lack of ambition which is poisoning the club.”
James Beavis – No new left-back
“It was clear at the start of the summer that Newcastle needed to get a left-back through the door at St James’ Park – and ideally someone better than Paul Dummett – but they didn’t get anyone.
“While Kenedy would be able to deputise there if the worst did happen and an injury or suspension occurred, getting no Dummett upgrade is a huge error. Yes, he is good defensively but he struggles to offer much attacking threat in the final third, which is hardly ideal for a team that struggles to find the net anyway.”
Ben Goodwin – Need more depth in defence
“Where do we start? Newcastle fans would be the first to admit the transfer window was a disaster, but their starting 11 is actually better than it gets credit for. Mo Diame and Jonjo Shelvey is one of the better midfield duos outside the top six, and I think Rondon will prove to be a great signing.
“However, the lack of depth at the back is alarming, and one injury to Dummett or Jamaal Lascelles would be catastrophic. The Magpies needed another left-back and another centre-back to survive the season.”
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Christy Malyan – Not reinvesting all of the Mitrovic money
“It’s easy to have a pop at Ashley, but it begs belief that Newcastle made a profit during the summer transfer window and didn’t sign a single player for more than £10million, when Fulham paid them £22million up front for a striker who didn’t even feature in Benitez’s plans for the vast majority of last season in Aleksandar Mitrovic.
“Perhaps the excess will be available to Benitez in January but considering how many players in the starting XI could be easily improved upon with one addition worth the same sum as what the Magpies received for the outcast striker, it’s undoubtedly a key opportunity missed.
“Ashley once publicly promised Benitez every penny available to spend on new signings – that clearly isn’t the case.”
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