Newcastle United are enduring a turbulent summer, to say the least.
They are in the news every day and little of that is what the club would desire – from their failure to land transfer targets to Alexander Isak’s attempts to force a move to Liverpool.
Our chief football reporter, Craig Hope, is with the club in South Korea this week, and he asked for your questions from the capital Seoul today. There were more than 300 that landed!
We thank you so much for them, and Craig has picked 10 that cover most of the subjects explored… enjoy!
Will Newcastle supporters ever get to see Alexander Isak in the black and white shirt again?
Why have so many transfer targets chosen not to join Newcastle this summer?
This is a great question and, just last night while I was in a taxi returning from Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat by a K-League XI in Suwon, a football agent texted me the exact same puzzler, because it is puzzling to many.
This was on the back of my update about Benjamin Sesko preferring a move to Manchester United, as it stands.
Now here is a bold statement, but I believe, on some level, the club were more attractive to would-be signings when the team were in the bottom three at the outset of new ownership. Back then there was excitement, the unknown, something new.
It was a rocket ship primed for take-off, and it did. Now, that rocket has come crashing back to earth.
How can I say that with the team in the Champions League and having just won a first major trophy in 70 years? Well, players talk. And word has spread in the game that the project some of them thought they were signing up to – Alexander Isak included – isn’t what it seemed on arrival.
A lot of that is to do with profit and sustainability rules, of course, but there are other factors beyond that which have caused unrest in the dressing room and left stars doubting the direction of the club.
Players want to see investment, on the pitch and with regards to infrastructure. They want to see and feel leadership from a boardroom level.
Right now, there is a void, and there has been ever since Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi left the club last summer, against their wishes.
This is a club that should be riding a high after winning their first major trophy for 70 years and returning to the Champions League – but this summer has been dark cloud after dark cloud
Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi oversaw the takeover then left the club last summer
The issue is not with Eddie Howe, it should be stated. He is a reason to join the club, and players know that. But as long as Newcastle are unable to compete with their direct rivals in terms of wages, and as long as doubts remain over the direction of travel under Saudi ownership, the club are not the sell they perhaps should be. Isak’s desire to go has not helped, either.
Indeed, the optics and narrative around the club are too negative. For me, that comes back to mismanagement at the very top. It did not have to be like this.
It is, really, remarkable the job Howe and his players have done amid the unrest and upheaval behind the scenes.
When will the CEO and sporting director be in place? Will they be more empowered?
The arrival of a new CEO, I believe, is imminent. It is expected that David Hopkinson, once of Real Madrid, will be that man. However, he has more of a commercial background as opposed to football operations. Either way, what he will bring is communication and leadership.
The new CEO must have presence, intelligence and the power to make decisions on the ground, rather than waiting for a thumbs up from Riyadh. That ‘process-driven’ approach has held the club back. There is a lot of excitement internally over the arrival of the CEO, for insiders know it is badly needed.
As for the sporting director, Nottingham Forest’s Ross Wilson is thought to have got the job, and Howe has given his seal of approval. I’m told his arrival will not be until next month, though.
The sporting director, first and foremost, needs a good working relationship with the head coach. The club got the appointment of Paul Mitchell badly wrong. Internally (and externally) they are still picking up the pieces of his tenure.
For example, I’m told his dealings with Burnley were a large part of the reason the James Trafford move did not happen. Sources close to the Clarets say owner Alan Pace was left livid by some of his interactions with Mitchell. Mending such relationships will be one of Wilson’s key tasks.
Paul Mitchell’s dealings with Burnley were a large part of why James Trafford did not join Toon
If Marc Guehi is available for less this summer than last, why haven’t Newcastle made an approach?
For starters, Newcastle did not want to make an approach for Guehi early in the window, knowing it would likely lead to another summer-long saga in which Crystal Palace chief Steve Parish played hardball – again!
They still like Guehi, but in the past 12 months they have also identified other targets abroad that they would prefer to pursue, including Marseille’s Leonardo Balerdi and Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini.
For now, though, a move for a centre back is on hold. I’m also told a deal for Guehi would be ‘difficult’ and my feeling is it is unlikely, if not impossible.
Newcastle are focusing on other centre backs including Marseille’s Leonardo Balerdi (right)
Are players on the shortlist from the start of summer, or is this a new list?
No, lists are being redrawn and added to (and, sadly for Newcastle, names scored off) on an almost daily basis.
Take the example of Rodrigo Muniz at Fulham. I was told at the start of the window that he was not a target. Just this week, however, I have learned informal contact has been made with intermediaries.
Given Sesko looks likely to join Manchester United and the deal for Yoane Wissa of Brentford is problematic, other options are being explored.
Now here is a name given to me in the past 24 hours that has been described as the ‘dark horse’ from the list of possibles – Jorgen Strand Larsen. The Norway striker, 25, only made permanent his move to Wolves this summer after a successful loan last season, but I’m told 14 Premier League goals during that debut campaign have not gone unnoticed at Newcastle.
Ollie Watkins remains of interest and, should Isak force through his move to Liverpool, I think an approach for the Aston Villa striker would make sense. He and Wissa are 29 and 28 respectively and, although that isn’t ideal from an investment perspective, they would buy Newcastle time and guarantee Premier League goals.
If Isak is to go, I don’t think that would be a bad alternative. Howe, and others, like Watkins. I have been around him with England and he’s a very good character.
If Isak is to go then Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins would be an excellent replacement for Newcastle
Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen is a new name on the club’s shortlist to replace Isak
Did Newcastle promise Isak he could go this summer?
Not that I know of, no. However, they were aware last season he wanted to explore his options this summer. The story I broke last week about him wishing to move on did not come overnight – this has been in the post for a while.
Isak feels Mitchell went back on a promise made by others, for him to be rewarded with a new contract last summer. It should be said, though, Mitchell’s decision made business sense – Isak had four years to run on his deal and was already earning around £150,000 a week.
But the upshot is this situation now. Had Isak been given the deal he wanted then, sources suggest, he would have honoured at least the first couple of years of that agreement, if not more. For all of that, the player still believes he has a better chance of winning more trophies elsewhere, so maybe this day was always going to come.
As it stands, the chances of him getting his move to Liverpool will take a hit if Newcastle miss out on Sesko. A sale will only be sanctioned on Newcastle’s terms, and they will not leave themselves without a top striker.
Isak is using the training facilities at Real Sociedad, his former club. Newcastle have not commented on them being aware of his trip, or if he was granted permission by the club. Either way, it is not a good look. Isak, if injured as he claims, should be doing his rehab with the club he plays for!
His conduct, understandably, is starting to leave a sour taste among supporters. And don’t forget, Newcastle said Isak was not here in the Far East because flying was not good for his ‘thigh injury’. I wonder if he got the bus to Spain…
Isak’s conduct, understandably, is starting to leave a sour taste among Newcastle supporters
The Swede is using the facilities of Real Sociedad, for whom he scored 44 goals in three years
Six goalkeepers, five midfielders. Who let that happen?
Good question! There is an imbalance to the squad and I fear folk are overlooking how light Newcastle are in midfield.
They have five in that department, but three have been dogged by injury issues in recent seasons. The chances of Joelinton, Joe Willock and Lewis Miley having injury-free campaigns are slim.
Plus, Newcastle play with three in midfield, so it doesn’t leave much margin for absence! From what I hear, midfield is not a priority position right now.
I think it should be! They do like Jack Rudoni at Coventry City, I know.
Newcastle do like Coventry City midfielder Jack Rudoni, who is learning under Frank Lampard
Will PIF ever do an interview?
Well, the piece I wrote this week examining their ownership and the detrimental impact of zero communication has been noted, put it that way. I hope it brings them to the table in terms of speaking to the independent media and, by extension, supporters.
It is so badly needed, because it feels like the club have been allowed to drift. Don’t underestimate what effect that has on potential signings, too. They want to join a club with leadership, presence and gravitas.
It is within PIF’s power to change the growing perception of their club as the poor relations of the Manchester clubs, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal. It should not be like that, nor does it have to be.
The Saudis, through other sporting ventures, have shown themselves to have clout and influence (and yes, money) – it’s about time they lent some of that authority to Newcastle United.
The Saudis, through other sporting ventures, have shown themselves to have clout and influence (and yes, money) – it’s about time they lent some of that authority to Newcastle
When will there be a stadium update?
This is a subject for a whole other article, but I don’t believe anything is imminent.
There is, I’m told, still a lot to consider and, of course, everything needs Saudi sign-off. It should probably come as no surprise that deadlines for announcements have come and gone.
And, finally, how do you think the summer will play out?
The narrative can change very quickly in football. But Newcastle need some new signings, and they need a resolution to the Isak saga ASAP.
Newcastle and Eddie Howe need a rapid resolution to the Isak situation so they can move on
I think the odds on him leaving have shrunk in the past 24 hours, but his determination to move makes it a complex situation.
This is not where Howe thought he would be when he signed off for last season having delivered Champions League football. It has been a nightmare summer.
Right now, I can’t really see the light for Newcastle, not when every day brings another cloud.
Still, they have an excellent manager, brilliant players and are in a strong position financially. They also have the Champions League. That is why this summer could, and should, have been very different to how it has played out.
