Newcastle have been unlucky with loan deals since 2017

Newcastle United haven’t had the best of luck with the players they’ve loaned in from other clubs since 2017.

Newcastle United are currently in the race for securing the services of Granit Xhaka from Arsenal in January, however, recent reports claim that the front office would like to negotiate a loan deal with an option to buy the player. Reading this news made me think of the different loanees that walked through the doors of St. James’ Park and let’s just say they haven’t met expectations on Tyneside.

Of course, there are some positive cases that we can look back on, such as Salomon Rondon. Thus far, we can also praise Jetro Willems for his good run of form, but there are still seven months until the end of the season. With the exception of Rondon and Willems, let me explain why the Toon have been unlucky with loanees since 2017.

Islam Slimani (2017-18)

Some of you may have forgotten that Islam Slimani joined Newcastle United in a loan deal from Leicester City on the final day of the January transfer window in 2018. At the time, fans had high hopes that Slimani would come in and make up for the scoring woes of Dwight Gayle and Joselu.

Unfortunately, the Algerian international failed in that regard. Slimani didn’t score a single goal, spent two months on the sideline with a thigh injury, and was sent back to Leicester with three games left in the season after picking up a red card against West Brom in matchweek 35.

Mikel Merino (2017-18 )

Mikel Merino was a talented midfielder with plenty of potential to become an elite player on Tyneside. If that’s the case, why would he be on this list? Well, he chose to leave Newcastle United after the club turned his loan deal into a permanent contract. Merino spent one season on Tyneside before moving back to Spain to play for Real Sociedad. Overall, this loanee played well, but he ditched the Toon way too soon.

Kenedy (2017-18 and 2018-19)

Fans were excited when the news broke that Kenedy was coming to Newcastle United in January of 2018. Kenedy was brilliant in his first loan stint between January and May. The Brazilian youngster was a handful for opposing defenders, influenced the flow of the game, and managed to score a few goals in the process.

Things went downhill in his second loan stint last season, though. Kenedy was missing the energy and urgency he played with the season before and he found himself sitting on the bench for most of the campaign. I think Kenedy was expecting to be on Maurizio Sarri’s radar after playing so well on loan at Newcastle United, but being loaned out once more definitely hurt his confidence.

Antonio Barreca (2018-19)

Antonio who? Come on, you remember the wing-back who joined the Magpies on loan in January from AS Monaco. Eh, if you can’t recall this defender I don’t blame you. Barreca only played a total of five minutes for Newcastle United in a match against Tottenham in London. Simply put, this loan deal was a waste of time and a waste of funds as the Toon paid the majority, if not all, of his weekly wages for five months.

Jordan Lukaku (Failed Medical Exam)

Jordan Lukaku was technically never a Newcastle United player, but because this article highlights the Magpies’ bad luck with loan deals his case made the list. In January of 2019, Newcastle United and Lazio negotiated a loan deal with an option to buy Lukaku, the brother of Romelu (Inter Milan), and the speedy defender flew to Newcastle upon Tyne for his medical exam. Well, he was sent back to Rome after failing to pass his medical exam. In this case, I don’t know who was more unlucky, Jordan Lukaku or Newcastle United, but either way, what an awkward situation for both parties.