Toon move from transfer blueprint

A REVEALING comment from Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy suggests how Newcastle United moved away from their transfer blueprint to sign Callum Wilson.

The Magpies announced the £20m signing of the Bournemouth striker on Monday, with the 28-year-old signing a four-year deal at St James’ Park.

The addition of Wilson and his former Cherries team-mate Ryan Fraser seems to have signalled a departure from the usual transfer philosophy on Tyneside.

United have prioritised talent from Europe in recent seasons with a potential resale value, rather than engaging in a typically pricier domestic market.

It’s a view that has seemingly been confirmed in one of the latest episodes of Tottenham Hotspur’s ‘All or Nothing’ documentary series.

The fifth episode of the Amazon show features a conversation between Levy and manager Jose Mourinho on the future of leftback Danny Rose. A previous instalment broadcast an explosive showdown between Rose and Mourinho over the England international’s first-team prospects in North London.

The Tottenham chairman indicates there is interest in Rose from Bournemouth and Newcastle, and it was ultimately the Magpies who secured a loan deal for the defender in January.

However, it is Levy’s comment on United’s transfer “philosophy” which indicates why the Wilson deal has broken the mould.

The Spurs chairman said: “The only two clubs I’m aware of today, on loan, are Bournemouth and Newcastle.

“Newcastle have the philosophy that anyone over 26, I don’t think they’ll buy.”