Patience is tested to the limit over bid to sign foreign duo
WHO first said “patience is a virtue?” Well, it is attributed to English poet William Langland who used the line in his poem Piers Plowman in 1360 – from when it became part our everyday language.
It has of course been borrowed in the last week by Newcastle director Mehrdad Ghodoussi when addressing the massed throngs of Tyneside.
Maybe “keep the faith” would have been a more modern idiom but we know what he means in dousing the flames while he and his colleagues try to push transfer deals over the line without their eyes being taken out
We get it and we are cool. We remember how well January turned out.
Nevertheless when it comes to Hugo Ekitike and Sven Botman all at Newcastle – board, manager and fans – have certainly required patience in a huge dollop.
I mean, a guy pushing a steamroller up a hill could make more progress.
Both Ekitike and Botman were scouted regularly last year and in the last seven months from the beginning of January transfer negotiations have been relentlessly ongoing.
We have been told a deal is “edging closer to completion” almost daily without any firm evidence it is.
We do “keep the faith” and have “patience” because after the mistrust created by Mike Ashley belief has taken over. Fans are as one. United.
Yet what can be the problems? United have been consistent in their interest but the goalposts move more than confetti in a high wind. With Botman it appears to be obvious.
His first choice is AC Milan but, steeped in the red tape of a takeover, they are finding it difficult to do a deal. Meanwhile, the Dutchman stalls in hope.
As for Ekitike, the excuses have been manyfold.
First his club Reims are trying to squeeze every bit of juice out of the orange and keep coming up with another clause.
Then his agent is looking to making his cut as big as possible which means playing the field. The player himself has gone from his stance in January of being unsure he was ready for such a huge move to a far-off city while a teenager to seeking reassurances on his playing time and the not inconsiderable problem which have arisen in 2022 over a succession of hamstring injuries.
It is understandable young men will wish to make certain their first big move is the right one but eventually you have to take a punt, guys. United are willing to, are you?
I only hope Ekitike and Botman are as good as they think they are and as good as United unquestionably think they are, otherwise a great deal of time has been wasted.
Because until United know whether their top two targets are going to sign or not it impacts on what they will do elsewhere, not least in terms of other strikers and central defenders which are two key positions needing to be strengthened this close season.
I hope Ekitike and Botman come, only sooner rather than later.
New owners deserve a break because they have earned it the hard way and a patient Toon Army deserve reward for unflinching devotion.
It is understandable young men will wish to make certain their first big move is the right one, but eventually you have to take a punt, guys.