Newsletter

Get your daily update and weekly newsletter by signing up today!

Opinion

This is the most depressing thing about Newcastle United summer transfer window

6 years ago
Share

We are now over weeks into the summer transfer window and over two months since Premier League safety was secured for Newcastle United.

We are also only three weeks away from the NUFC squad returning for pre-season training.

Dubravka the only signing so far and that had to be done by the end of May, or else Newcastle would have lost the option to buy for a no-brainer £4m.

However, it isn’t the fact that nothing else has happened so far that really depresses me.

Instead, it is the case that Mike Ashley has sucked out all of our dreams.

There is no belief that Newcastle will go (relatively!) big on any signing in this summer transfer window.

A litmus test was always going to be Kenedy.

The Chelsea winger did well in his loan spell, some little bits of magic, scored and created a few goals, but he isn’t a superstar.

Yet I don’t now meet any Newcastle fans who believe there is any chance of signing him.

The belief is that because he would cost getting on for £20m, beyond Newcastle’s current 13 year old transfer record, it simply can’t happen.

The optimism of many/most fans has gone rapidly downhill since the season ended.

Having got to Premier League safety with over a month of the season left, then smashing Chelsea 3-0 in the final game, Newcastle fans hoped that the momentum would be kept running.

Hopes/expectations being that a decent but realistic transfer budget would have been agreed in the weeks following safety being guaranteed, enabling Rafa Benitez to get key targets lined up early and get straight to work.

Instead, Rafa is back home with his feet up enjoying the rest, in between taking his assortment of dogs out for their walks.

Nothing wrong with that of course, he has earned it, but I bet he would rather be getting stuck into preparations for next season by nailing early transfer targets, especially Kenedy.

The Brazilian won’t be getting a game for Chelsea next season, nor will he be going to PSG or Bayern Munich or any of the daft names mentioned, however he may well end up going to an ambitious Premier League club prepared to give Chelsea what they want to let him go.

He has been to Newcastle, he likes it at Newcastle, he delivered at Newcastle, he needs/wants regular football and to continue learning from Rafa Benitez.

If Newcastle can’t/won’t sign him, then how can anyone believe that Mike Ashley will allow Rafa then to spend over £16m on a striker or number 10, or indeed any other position?

The summer should be a time of hope, wondering what could happen next.

It might never happen but the hope should at least still be there, or else what is the point of being a football fan?
[get_involved]

Share

If you would like to feature on The Mag, submit your article to contribute@themag.co.uk

Have your say

© 2024 The Mag. All Rights Reserved. Design & Build by Mediaworks