JOHN GIBSON First deal is Dub and dusted so let’s sign a few more
EVERYONE who cares about Newcastle United must be delighted at the permanent signing of supergoalie Martin Dubravka.
He is quality and made a significant contribution to United’s rise from the relegation dungeon to a heady 10th finish.
However, amid the euphoria – ‘the best signing of the summer already’ has enthused some Tweeting fans – let us not lose sight of the overall objective.
That is for Mike Ashley to REALLY splash the cash in a show of faith to Rafa Benitez.
Let not United’s hierarchy bask in an early deal hailed by supporters and then suddenly wake up with a summer of opportunity half gone. Lee Charnley has a history of making a quick capture of a previously on-loan player – remember Christian Atsu last year – and then allowing silence to take over. Atsu was a May signing but afterwards Benitez met with and had in the bag players like Tammy Abraham and Manchester City’s goalkeeper Willy Caballero. Those deals fell through thanks to the money man amid growing tension. Then there was also the negotiation for Florian Lejeune, which dragged on as United repeatedly tried to beat down the price.
Dubravka, at £4m, is a better acquisition than Atsu was at £6m but the bottom line is the team has not been improved. It has been protected.
Big Martin was already here and we are well pleased he is walking with us for the next four years.
That being said, other fresh faces are also required if Benitez is to have a chance this coming season. United’s manager is said to want five new players to bolster his squad, not just the team, and that is fair comment. However, will he be allowed to get them? If so, has he to shop in Poundstretcher rather than Harrods? Or just plain borrow? Remember there will be money coming in as well with the likes of Alexsandar Mitrovic, Chancel Mbemba, Adam Armstrong and Matz Sels available to depart. All that plus the original transfer kitty must go straight to Benitez. Anything short of that and it is a dereliction of duty.