Newcastle United still have work to do during this summer transfer window, but time is running out.
Unlike the traditional date of August 31st, the Premier League has decided to close the summer transfer window on August 9th. There are pros and cons to this decision, but, in general, it does not bode well for Newcastle United.
From a fiscal perspective, Mike Ashley is the most conservative club owner in the Premier League. Ashley’s hesitation to spend money on players that Newcastle would benefit from has significantly hindered the club’s potential success.
In other words, Ashley has succeeded in maintaining Newcastle’s reputation as the sleeping giant of English football. Moreover, Ashley’s silence on how much money the club has to spend during each transfer window is hurting the Magpies.
For two years now, Rafa Benitez has unfortunately been working with a blind budget. Benitez clearly has a long-term vision for the club, but he cannot implement his ideas without proper financial support. All of these factors have played a role in the club’s activity this summer. With that being said, here are three mistakes Newcastle have made during the summer transfer window.
Sell First, Buy Later
The first issue I would like to shine some light on is nothing new for Newcastle supporters. This strategy of sell players first and buy new players later simply is not working for the Magpies. The problem is that Ashley has been staying loyal to this tactic for a decade now.
In some cases, this strategy does work, but when your club is in a transition phase and trying to land a spot in the top six it does not. Once again, Newcastle have sat back and waited for prospective suitors to buy their unwanted players.
Fine, make a profit and throw it toward the transfer budget. However, solely using money from player sales to purchase new talent is a horrible idea, especially when mediocre players have record-breaking asking prices.
No Striker
Mistake number two, and quite possibly the grandest of them all, is the fact that no striker has arrived. The transfer window has been open for two months now and Newcastle have failed to secure the services of a striker.
The Magpies were the second lowest scoring team in the top half of the table last season with 39 goals. Dwight Gayle and Joselu only combined for ten goals and there is no additional depth at the striker position.
With that being said, it should be quite obvious that Newcastle have one of the weakest front-lines in the Premier League. The solution for these scoring woes is simple: break the club transfer record and sign a striker before it is too late.
No Early Signings
Over the last few years, Newcastle have been inactive at the start and middle of each transfer window. This is a major mistake and the blame goes to Mike Ashley and his executive crew. Rafa Benitez has been adamant about knowing his budget so he can pursue players early on.
This inactivity at the start of the transfer window sets Newcastle behind the competition several months before the season begins. Even clubs such as Wolverhampton, Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town jumped the gun early on to sign players they needed.
The Magpies have missed out on many players as a result of this inactivity. Benitez and his staff can only hope to secure the services of one or two more players at this point.