This failed experiment at Newcastle United must end in January

Newcastle United thought they purchased a star in Joelinton, but in reality they got a player not cut out for English football.

Newcastle United broke the bank when they spent £40m to secure the services of Joelinton from Hoffenheim. Well, in my opinion, Mike Ashley only spent £10m for Joelinton and the remaining £30m of the fee came from the sale of Ayoze Perez to Leicester City.

I could be wrong, but would it be a major surprise if that was true? Ashley is the same guy who “broke the club’s transfer record” with the £21m transfer of Miguel Almiron from Atlanta United, but that deal was financed through a loan with Barclays Bank.

Okay, back to the focal point of the article, Joelinton scored 11 goals across all competitions (33 appearances) in his final season in Germany, and the Magpies took a gamble on his potential, but it proved to be the wrong call.

The front office recommended Joelinton’s name to Rafa Benitez when he was manager, but the Spaniard wanted nothing to do with him. Yes, Benitez has made some bad judgment calls when it comes to players – cough, Yoshinori Muto, cough – but he was on point with ignoring Joelinton.

With only two goals in Premier League action, Joelinton has proved that he is not cut out to play in the top flight. It is not just the lack of goals that raised red flags, but the Brazilian showed no willingness or dedication to adapt to his new role and improve.

He was given chance after chance by Steve Bruce to prove doubters wrong, but now he finds himself on the bench and falling down the pecking order in two different positions. Callum Wilson has solidified his place as the primary striker, and Andy Carroll is clearly Bruce’s second choice until Dwight Gayle returns next month.

Out wide, Allan Saint-Maximin will only miss action if he picks up an injury, and there is now too much competition between Ryan Fraser, Miguel Almiron, Jeff Hendrick, Jacob Murphy, and Matt Ritchie (when fit) for playing on the opposite flank and in the number ten role.

That being said, no more time needs to be wasted on this experiment. Joelinton clearly lacks the confidence to excel in the Premier League, and at times his work rate is not deserving of any minutes. Secondly, the sooner he is sold, the more money Newcastle United can get for his sale.

His transfer fee would certainly be significantly less than the £40m Hoffenheim received in 2019, but there is no point in dragging this process on any longer. If need be, the Toon should even consider loaning him out in January and work out a permanent sale in the summer. Anything to get him off the books would be great business.