Time on United’s side in race to get halfway transfer house in order
SEVEN weeks from the end of Newcastle United’s glorious season and almost seven from the start of the next – this weekend had the feeling of black-andwhite no-man’s land.
Time remains on Newcastle’s side as they look to assemble a squad for a tilt at the Premier League. But make no mistake, Rafa Benitez will want to see some action in the next few days if he is to feel satisfied that momentum of last season’s successful effort is to be maintained.
It wasn’t until the start of July that the real heavy lifting began in Newcastle’s Championship rebuilding job. Matz Sels was the first in, but three good weeks in July saw Newcastle bring in Matt Ritchie, Dwight Gayle and Isaac Hayden in a flurry of activity that laid the groundwork for United to endure in a long, hard and gruelling season.
There’s time. We’re not even in July yet and Newcastle have an extra week before their Premier League campaign starts. Yet United – having signed off the season with optimistic messages following the summit between Mike Ashley and Benitez in May – must show some intent soon to quell both internal and external worries about recruitment delays.
Money is available and homework has been done. This is Benitez, after all, the meticulous master builder who does deals after plenty of deliberation. Daryl Murphy was the perfect example of that: a player whose recruitment caused much head scratching in September but who made perfect sense by January.
Benitez’s expertise is highly valued at Newcastle. It’s also highly rewarded, so it has to be vindicated by the club lavishing more in terms of transfer fees in one summer than they ever have before. That might make Lee Charnley wince or prompt q u e s t i o n s from Ashley but it shouldn’t. The long-term indications remain that United will do considerable business in this window.
United sources insist they’re working on several deals and three could be done by the time the club turn up for pre-season. But there is also the problem of balancing the s q u a d through s a l e s too, with N e w - c a s t l e needing to secure both financial wriggle room and space in t h e
squad through sales. That process began this week with Matz Sels joining Anderlecht on loan and there will be plenty of other temporary switches this summer with few clubs abroad able to match the level of wages even a Championship Newcastle could offer. Benitez understands that. But the need to supplement the squad with a dash of Premier League elan and give them some really quality cover is crucial both for morale and also to make sure that United are fighting a rearguard action from the moment they kick off against Tottenham.
Benitez has earmarked a number of deals that look as if they make sense. Florian Lejeune has the character, ability and price tag to fit straight in at Newcastle.
Andre Gray’s contractual situation at Burnley means that he’s probably going to be more affordable than some of the other Premier League strikers on the market this summer. Newcastle like him a lot – just as they do Tom Lawrence, Leicester’s Wales international winger.
Benitez has been in contact with Chelsea about the number of internationals they’re ready to let out on loan. He is keenly monitoring developments at Liverpool and Everton – both clubs where he has contacts – and knows some big players may be made available on Merseyside who could add real steel to his squad.
The first deal – second, if you count Christian Atsu – will be a relief. It is expected to come by the first week of July at the latest – if it arrives sooner, that will be better.
It’s a very long summer and has the potential to be a very good one.