Newcastle United summer transfer grades
By Durim Halimi
The Premier League transfer window officially closed yesterday and Newcastle United signed five players this summer.
It is difficult to believe that this is true, but Newcastle United were active in the summer transfer window and they signed five quality players who can improve the squad and provide good internal competition. Newcastle United desperately needed to replace Ayoze Perez and Salomon Rondon, and they needed to add some more quality in midfield and in defense. Well, the Magpies did just that and fans should feel much better about the 2019-20 Premier League campaign.
If I had to give Newcastle United’s front office a grade for their activity this summer, the grade would be an A, or nine out of ten. Some fans might disagree because they wanted even more money spent this summer, but the signings the club completed have sufficient talent to elevate the status of the club, especially over the next few seasons. That being said, let’s take a look at each signing and grade them based on what we know about them before the season officially kicks off later today.
Individual Transfer Grades
Joelinton: A+
Newcastle United spent £40m on Joelinton to smash their transfer record and the hype around the 22-year-old is real. He was directly involved in 20 goals for Hoffenheim last season with 11 goals and nine assists. Moreover, he looked like a solid, dynamic striker in preseason with two impressive goals in the final two friendlies. Fans should be excited about the young Brazilian playing up top this season.
Allan Saint-Maximin: A
Joelinton may be the most expensive signing of the summer, but Allan Saint-Maximin is the mot exciting. His style of play gets fans out of their seats and he can be dangerous with the ball at his feet down the wing. He was successful in Ligue 1 and Steve Bruce will be hoping his good form follows him to England.
Jetro Willems: B+
After years of being on the Magpies’ radar, Jetro Willems is finally on Tyneside. Willems will face some good competition from Paul Dummett for playing time, but the loanee from Eintracht Frankfurt brings insightful experience to a relatively young roster. Willems said his goal is to revive his career at the national team level, so look for him to put his heart on his sleeve when he is on the pitch to attract the attention of the Netherlands.
Emil Krafth: B+
Emil Krafth is a talented defender with some decent experience having played in the Serie A and Ligue 1, and he is now earning regular call-ups to the Swedish national team. It might take some time for him to adapt to the Premier League, but he has enough talent to eventually start over DeAndre Yedlin and Javier Manquillo as the right wing-back this season.
Next. A win vs. Arsenal would be massive for Newcastle. dark
Andy Carroll: B
He is back! Andy Carroll joined the Toon yesterday and fans are happy to see the Geordie back on Tyneside after being a free agent all summer. Carroll has struggled with injuries over the course of his career, but he provides good depth for the club at the striker position. Where Carroll will fall in the depth chart is still unclear, but he can definitely be a game-changer as a second half substitute, especially against bottom-half opposition.