A new year brings so many questions about the Magpies
TRANSFERS, TAKEOVERS AND TEAM SELECTIONS...
A THIRD of the January transfer window has already passed and Newcastle United are still to make a breakthrough in the market.
Mike Ashley remains the owner of the Magpies, despite interest from a Peter Kenyon-led consortium and three other parties.
Manager Rafa Benitez has cut a frustrated figure in recent weeks and, with Newcastle just two points above the relegation zone their Premier League status is in serious danger - and the Spaniard wants to see reinforcements.
As ever, there is plenty to talk about as far as Newcastle are concerned, though, unfortunately, little of it is positive at the moment.
With all that in mind, NUFC writer Chris Waugh answered readers’ questions on transfers, the takeover, and team selection in a Q&A in a live blog...
Do you think Newcastle will sign Miguel Almiron this month?
The Almiron situation is undoubtedly frustrating Benitez, who believed the Paraguayan could - and should - have been a Newcastle player by January 1, if not before.
The MLS Cup final took place in early-December and so the Atlanta United playmaker was available for transfer - seemingly he is also keen to move to Europe as well.
Yet the demands of the deal which include a £25million asking price, £100,000-a-week wages, plus a high-six-figure agent fee - scuppered any quick progress, though rarely do Newcastle complete transfers quickly nowadays regardless.
United’s scouting team have watched Almiron around a dozen times and head of recruitment Steve Nickson even flew across to the USA to help facilitate the deal.
As of yet there has been little to no progress, however, and Newcastle are still significantly short of Atlanta’s asking price. Despite reports elsewhere suggesting otherwise, too, our information is personal terms have not been agreed with Almiron yet either.
I still think both Atlanta and Almiron will come down with their demands but Newcastle are going to have to increase their offers to sign the 25-year-old.
Do I see that happening? I am still sceptical - and, even if the Magpies hierarchy is adamant it would break its 13-and-a-halfyear-old transfer record for the “right player”until it actually happens, we will all rightly be cynical.
Instead, I suspect Benitez will be forced to sign an attacking midfielder on loan from the continent later in the window.
Can NUFC survive a third relegation in a decade?
One relegation was devastating enough but two demotions inside eight seasons really did cripple Newcastle. While both relegations were entirely of Ashley’s own making, the billionaire’s decision to maintain a Premier League budget in the Championship - particularly in 2016/17 helped the Magpies return to the top flight at the first time of asking. Those immediate promotions softened the blow of demotion both times, though Newcastle’s finances were still significantly hit. Managing-director Lee Charnley even admitted last summer Newcastle had gambled on getting out of the Championship at the first time of asking and, had they not, then the extent of the cuts that would have been necessary at all levels of the club do not even bear thinking about. It has taken more than 18 months back in the top flight for Newcastle to start stabilising again and, although Ashley could have allowed greater sums of money to be invested in the playing squad, the club’s argument is they had to cover the £90m-plus losses they sustained in the second tier.
In my view, the effect of a third relegation inside a decade on Newcastle cannot be overstated.
Benitez’s tenure would almost certainly end and a new manager would have to rebuild.
Given the fact Ashley is so determined to sell, there is no guarantee he will cover such losses again to give Newcastle the best chance of bouncing back at the first time of asking.
Even if he does, all that will result is an even greater reliance on the billionaire. Both relegations have seen Ashley part with higher loans and each time it has made it less likely he will leave as owner as a result.
There is no positive outcome in my mind that results from relegation - only uncertainty and potentially further pain. That is why survival is so essential.
Where do we stand with the Newcastle takeover? Is Kenyon the only bidder?
For the second January transfer window in succession the Newcastle agenda has been dominated by a takeover saga.
Last year it was Amanda Staveley and PCP Capital Partners’ pursuit of the club and this time around it is Peter Kenyon and his consortium who are trying to finally end Ashley’s 11-and-a-half-year ownership of the club.
Understandably, those fans who have become cynical of Ashley’s intentions have questioned the validity of Kenyon’s bid and argue this is merely a smokescreen to avoid significant investment in transfers during the current window.
My understanding is that is not the case - Kenyon is genuine in his efforts to buy the club and up to three other interested parties have also spoken with Ashley’s lawyers.
The pre-Christmas letter which emerged last week proved there is interest from Kenyon - even if it did highlight a takeover is not necessarily imminent, given his consortium simply do not yet have the funds to meet Ashley’s £300m asking price.
One suggestion from the Ashley camp has been for Kenyon to join forces with a rival consortium led by ex-Manchester City CEO Garry Cook - but as of yet it is unclear if that avenue is being pursued.