With Newcastle United seemingly all locked up for the Summer, things will surely start moving from the beginning of next month.
This Friday sees June roar in and with it, the unofficial start of the 2018/19 season. A season where the new fixtures will be released just under two weeks later and a greater urgency from Rafa Benitez to get some funds released to deal with.
In a Summer containing a World Cup competition and potentially an opportunity for Newcastle fans to enjoy what positive things lie ahead has instead started to resemble yet another close season of doubt, misleading transfer rumours and the usual propaganda that has surrounded the full term of Mike Ashley ownership.
It’s paramount to the club’s future that things can’t be allowed to get out of hand and the longer things go on unresolved, it will only increase the unnecessary gloom that will follow. It’s still early I agree but history doesn’t shine brightly on our past windows.
The recent message that came from the release of the club accounts was that we are skint but ignoring the propaganda of the state of us over a year ago should see a hefty wedge sitting there. To add to that is a big list of players that we have loaned out and some players that will be surely upgraded if Rafa is given free reign.
Our biggest name that is surely available is Aleksandar Mitrovic. He cost an alleged £13m but has failed to live up to his potential here. A potential that has been realised on loan at Fulham. They are a potential club for him to move to permanently but with lower premier league sides sniffing for a target man, he could have many options. Anything North of £20m will be snapping hands off from our regime but a good World Cup for ‘Mitro’ would surely see his value elevated like many other players have seen over the years so an auction could lie ahead here.
Our loan players will all be available and included in that list is Jack Colback, Achraf Lazaar, Adam Armstrong, Henri Saivet and Rolando Aarons. The Chronicle said that Matz Sels and Chancel Mbemba could be moving to Anderlecht for approaching £10m plus Massidio Haidara was also said to be available to leave if an offer comes in. With no official retained list yet that I know off and absolutely nothing happening yet, this is all pure speculation but if the club has any chance of Rafa extending his contract when the transfer window closes in August then they have work to do to convince.
Out of favour Mikel Merino, Dwight Gayle, Joselu, Javier Manquillo and Ciaran Clarke are players that I personally reckon could be moved on if Rafa gets some sort of control but I guess we’ll find out in the coming days and weeks. Incomings would ideally be in the positions that we’re desperate to strengthen which is up front, central midfield and either wing. For incoming business, Chelsea’s Kenedy would be a great start for one as he impressed greatly when on loan here as he played a big part in our tenth place finish.
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