With six weeks to go in the transfer window and no new players signed by the club (with the exception of Martin Dubravka), there is growing impatience with the club’s approach in the market.
The owner is once again letting the club drift and has so far failed to give Rafa the resources he needs this summer to improve the squad.
One fan on Twitter says we are on course for the worst transfer window ever:
6 weeks left until the transfer window slams shut.
6 WEEKS.
If you’re an NUFC fan and alarm bells aren’t ringing yet then I’m not sure what to say ⏰????????????????
On course for our WORST TRANSFER WINDOW IN HISTORY at this rate.
Absolute disgrace.#NUFC
— Burnsie ⚽???? NUFC ????️⚽ (@BenArfaChance) 26 June 2018
Other supporters were more hopeful that some deals will be struck over the coming weeks, while some are angry at the club:
6 weeks left x
— Buzza (@buzza9676) 26 June 2018
But what can anyone do about it?
— No1 Bestest Space Farce Cadet (@mickdalton41) 26 June 2018
We will get players in, once Mitro comes back from the World Cup it’ll all start off mate cos seems to me he’s the main one that will give the Club extra money but it’s a bit baffling in what’s actually happening with Mbemba etc, not even a player seen having a medical ????♂️
— ????⚽ ▌▌▌Frankie ▌▌▌⚽???? (@franktastic9) 27 June 2018
Maybe ( and I know it’s not ), but maybe, we have loads of deals lined up waiting for the World Cup to end and/or TV money in July ???? Wouldn’t that be awesome ???????? …. *cue barrage of abuse….,,
— Graham Hunter (@graham_hunter68) 26 June 2018
The one after we finished fifth was pretty shocking, if this beats it, it’s gonna be embarrassing.
Look at Huddersfield, Brighton, Burnley… no disrespect, but smaller clubs who are breaking their records left and right.
NUFC isn’t a club, it’s a business.
Sigh.— el Danilo. ⚫️⚪️ (@DoctorCookeh) 26 June 2018
No wonder the ST deadline has been extended. People aren’t as daft as MA may think. It’s an absolute joke.
— Marc Wailes (@MarcWailes) 26 June 2018
It’s time 2 show disgust at heirachy by not renewing STs MA can not take fans 4 granted! No more if my ££££s.
— KevBa (@kevba1971) 26 June 2018
Thing is we all know what happens every transfer window and that is zilch won’t change until he’s gone
— MAGPIES (@mrtboy64) 26 June 2018
The Toon typically don’t sign players in June. I’m not as worried as the Chronicle want fans to be.
— Ian (@ISTB87) 27 June 2018
Verdict:
The rationale behind leaving it so long before signing players seems to be down to when we receive the TV money from the Premier League.
Chronicle journalist Chris Waugh believes that we should see more activity after a £40m-50m lump sum is received in mid-July. The pattern is similar to last summer but the key difference this year is that the transfer window closes a few weeks earlier.