Newcastle are finally healing their transfer trauma with their new signing policy

Analysis

Suraj Radia | Editor

Newcastle have had a difficult last 12 months in the market but they appear to finally have turned a corner after showcasing their new transfer policy with their latest new signing.

The Magpies have not had much to cheer about over the last year, having sold three of their best players in Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali to put a serious dent in the club’s project to challenge the Premier League’s elite.

Despite receiving a staggering €333 million for the trio, Newcastle supporters have been left nervous over the club’s ability to replace their stars, having spent more than €275m last summer to questionable returns.

But, while many of their signings have still yet to justify their pricetags, the biggest trauma for Newcastle has come from the players they didn’t sign, with Eddie Howe’s side spending weeks pursuing deals for multiple top targets only to see them sign for rivals instead.

Having seen a similar situation emerge this summer with Victor Munoz, who joined Liverpool last month despite being in talks with Newcastle for weeks, it was looking as though it could be another window of déjà vu for the Geordies going into July.

However, Newcastle have acted assertively with the €50m signing of Bazoumana Toure and they are now set to add 18-year-old Sean Steur from Ajax in quick succession to mark a dramatic change in thinking that could represent a new era at St James’ Park.

Out with the old, in with the Newcastle – the mentality shift that has already paid off this summer

Newcastle had the fourth-oldest squad in the Premier League last season, with Lewis Hall and Lewis Miley the only regular players in Howe’s team who were 21 or younger.

Indeed, prior to this summer, Will Osula was the only player aged 21 or younger that had been signed for the first team in the last two years, with Howe often preferring to target proven Premier League performers who were in their prime.

However, that strategy backfired last summer, with the likes of Anthony Elanga and Yoan Wissa being signed for around €60m each, yet neither came close to warranting their pricetags last season as Newcastle finished in 12th place.

Newcastle already struggled to convince the likes of Hugo Ekitike, Benjamin Sesko and Joao Pedro to sign for them last summer when they had Champions League football but missing out on European qualification for next season forced a major rethink to the club’s transfer plans.

Instead of trying to beat bigger clubs with greater history and resources to the signing of the best wonderkids in the world, Newcastle – armed with new sporting director Ross Wilson – have so far pivoted to younger, unproven talent.

The Magpies’ first capture of the summer came in May with the €21m signing of 20-year-old goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen from Ligue 2 side Reims and the majority of Newcastle’s targets so far have been around the same age, such as Johan Manzambi, whom they are in talks to sign from Freiburg.

Even the signing of Toure came from out of the blue, with the Hoffenheim youngster insisting he was desperate to sign for Newcastle after learning of their interest – a welcome message to the club who had so frequently seen targets display the exact opposite attitude.

With the impending arrival of Steur following a similar trajectory, Newcastle appear to have finally found a rhythm by curating a more humble transfer policy targeting young talents who genuinely want to play for the club, rather than simply hoping more proven youngsters pick them over other teams.

Although replacing established stars with raw, inexperienced youngsters may lead to a weaker team in the short-term, Newcastle are looking towards the long-term, knowing that one step back could lead to three steps forward in the future.

The club are hoping to add at least five more signings before the end of the summer – a goal they may well achieve with little friction if they continue to identify smart, under-the-radar options to build a fresh, young team under a brand new vision.

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