Amidst the turmoil and chaos on and off the pitch, one thing is perfectly clear for Newcastle United and that is the desperate need for summer investment with regards to the playing staff. Currently, a number of first-team players are nearing the end of their contracts and with renewals unlikely, the club will have to replace the likes of Ryan Taylor, Jonas Gutierrez and Sammy Ameobi with quality additions in the next transfer window.
It is widely perceived that any successful team should have at least a solid spine consisting of a shot-stopping goalkeeper, a hard-line centre-back, a central midfielder pulling the strings in behind an out-and-out striker. Currently, it is arguable that Newcastle United lack any of the above, which means for Premier League consolidation, major upheaval is required. The following are potential candidates to plug the gaps in the under-performing positions.
Newcastle United’s Transfer Targets
Charlie Austin—The QPR striker has been in excellent form this season, bagging 17 goals in just 31 appearances for the struggling London side, who are on the verge of relegation. It is likely that Austin will wish to remain in the Premier League next season if the R’s do fall back into the second tier and a possible destination could be St James Park, as Austin himself has expressed his desire at playing ‘week-in week-out’. At Newcastle, with the current striking options of injury-prone Papiss Cisse, and unproven Siem de Jong, Austin would be a shoe-in for the number nine role. However, the likelihood of a move to Crystal Palace is greater than one to Newcastle as the striker will probably want to remain in London where he is located with his family and would similarly walk into a starting berth as a proven goalscorer.
Matt Ritchie—A stylish season for AFC Bournemouth has seen attention in Ritchie’s performances rocket in recent months, with a number of Premier League sides expressing an interest. Ritchie’s thirteen goals and seventeen assists for the free-scoring Cherries has ensured their Premier League status next season. 25-year-old Ritchie is accustomed to playing in front of just 10,000 at the Goldsands Stadium and a move to St James where the Scotsman would turn out in front of 52,000 would be very enticing. A winger by trade who can play in behind the striker too, Ritchie is undoubtedly one of the Championship’s hotshots this season playing a part in no fewer than 30 goals, just six fewer than Newcastle have mustered all season. United’s wingers this season have been especially disappointing, with Ameobi, Cabella, Obertan, Gouffran and Aarons returning just four goals between them. Change is required.
Aderlan Santos—Not many will know of Sporting Braga’s Brazilian centre-back, who has been at the heart of the Portuguese side’s defence all season. Braga have conceded just nineteen goals in 30 league matches, 29 of which Aderlan Santos has featured in, scoring twice. An imposing figure of 6ft 4in, the 26-year-old Brazilian possesses potential that is presently being unfulfilled in the Portuguese Primeira. An ageing centre-back trio of Mike Williamson, Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini have conceded a huge 57 goals so far this season, proving a youthful influx of raw talent is needed imminently and a rough diamond like Aderlan Santos could be exactly what Tyneside has been crying out for. At times this season, the lack of pace in United’s rearguard has been exposed and punished and while the Brazilian’s tall frame suggests much of the same, that is not the case. Considering SC Braga and the Portuguese League isn’t the wealthiest, a cut-price transfer fee, for Premier League standards, would be possible. One to watch for his aerial threat and athleticism.
Davy Klaassen—With Newcastle United’s showing in the Premier League this year unlikely to attract foreign players from the top European leagues, they may have to turn their scouting network to the likes of Portugal and the Netherlands. While Klaassen’s Ajax missed out on the Eredivisie title this year, the Dutchman has been instrumental in his contributions to the side’s goals tally with nine assists. United have been lacking a playmaker since the departure of Yohan Cabaye to PSG eighteen months ago, and since then a suitable replacement has eluded the St James Park faithful. Klaassen, however, is a 22-year-old with grit and determination and may follow in the footsteps of Siem de Jong to England, if interest and a bid is made to the Amsterdam club. Between them, Moussa Sissoko and Jack Colback have provided seven assists this season, proving that there is little effective supply to the goal-starved strikers, yet Klaassen in a central midfield role could bring that to the team, allowing Colback to concentrate more on defensive duties and Sissoko on his preference that is direct attacking.
It isn’t a foregone conclusion that Newcastle United will sign any of these transfer targets, but the season they have endured in front of goal and at the back makes it evident that a massive shake-up is mandatory and the type of players listed are the kind who will have a positive impact on the side.
United’s scouting department tend to foray into the French market and have scouted some hit-and-miss players in recent times, with the likes of Yohan Cabaye being snapped up from 2010-11 French champions Lille OSC, for £4.3m, but also the infamous signing of striker Emmanuel Riviere for £6m who has been absent in front of goal this season. It is hoped that United’s scouts will venture further than the shores across the English Channel, seeking out hidden gems elsewhere in Europe and also on British territory as there is lots of talent to be uncovered in Scotland and the Championship too.
