Newcastle United are in for an intriguing summer transfer window as they plot the necessary improvements to help take the club to the next level.
It’s quality over quantity that’s needed in the coming months, with the Magpies squad already good enough to compete with the Premier League’s best. However, making the next step of regularly pushing for a top-four place and winning silverware will need even more quality in Eddie Howe’s side.
Improvements could be made all over the pitch, with perhaps only Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes completely assured of their place in the side. The dreaded financial fair play rules mean United will have to careful with their spending, but one big deal could be enough to swing the balance in the short term. Here’s what a dream scenario could look like for the Magpies.
Olise signs
With Anthony Gordon on the left and Alexander Isak through the middle, United could have a forward line to threaten the very best with the addition of a world-class right-sided player. Miguel Almiron and Jacob Murphy have both more than earned their place in the Magpies squad, but the feeling on Tyneside is that there needs to be a step up in quality in this area.
Newcastle have been linked with a move for Crystal Palace sensation Michael Olise, with the winger enjoying another excellent season at Selhurst Park. He won’t come cheap and there will be plenty of competition – Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea have all been credited with interest.
Money, as we know, is relatively tight, but if they are to bring the right winger role up to the standard of Gordon, Isak and midfield playmaker Bruno Guimaraes, then United must focus their investment here. Olise has been priced at around £60m, with a similar figure quoted for other options such as Wolves’ Pedro Neto and Bryan Mbeumo of Brentford.
If United can offload some players and add signings such as Lloyd Kelly for little to no transfer fee, then would one big-name signing be enough? Certainly someone of Olise’s standing arriving would go a long way to justifying January’s decision not to spend.
Isak stays
Newcastle simply have to keep Isak if they are to continue to build on their ambitions. The whole world saw what the Swede can do when fit and in form, with the striker adding consistency to the undoubted talent we had already seen.
Isak is one of the names mooted as options to sell should the club need to raise funds to meet FFP rules, but the player himself is happy on Tyneside and will be pivotal if United are to improve on last season’s seventh-placed finish.
Rebuffing interest from sides such as Arsenal would send a strong message – and just imagine the 24-year-old alongside Gordon and Olise as a front three. If Isak is now worth in excess of £100m, Gordon is surely close to that amount, and with a summer signing of around £60m, United could boast a £250m forward line.
