Alan Shearer makes ‘embarrassing’ Newcastle United claim & names the player ‘they need’ to sign

The Magpies have recruited four new faces this summer but only Lloyd Kelly has featured in the starting XI, with Will Osula an unused substitute in the opening two Premier League matches against Southampton and AFC Bournemouth.

Meanwhile, goalkeepers John Ruddy and Odysseas Vlachodimos, the latter signed for an undisclosed fee from Nottingham Forest as part of the Elliot Anderson move, are behind Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka in the pecking order. 

Failure to bring a “big signing” to St James’ Park before Friday’s 11pm deadline would reflect badly on top brass Eales and Mitchell, according to Shearer. 

“They need to give the fans a bit of excitement. Darren Eales and Paul Mitchell, the chief executive and sporting director, need to do something in the next week because they cannot go into September without bringing a big signing to Newcastle,” Shearer told The Rest is Football Podcast. “For them to go into September without bringing a big hit or a big statement signing in, I think would look really, really poor on those two.

“Marc Guehi remains the Magpies’ top target, although have had multiple bids rejected by Crystal Palace. Palace command a fee as high as £70million for the England international. Shearer says it’s a deal United need to get over the line. 

He added: “They need to bring Marc Guehi in. They need to have a statement signing. It would be really embarrassing for those two in particular who have been not promoted, but who are now running the football club.

“They've made several bids for Guehi at Crystal Palace. They just need to get it over the line. They cannot go into September without bringing a big signing in because I think it would reflect really bad on those two.” 

A signing would certainly help lift the mood with Shearer worried all is not right between the St James’ Park walls.

Howe’s side have beaten Southampton with 10 men and drawn at Bournemouth in their opening two league games but Shearer has concerns over both performances. 

“Newcastle were lucky. I don't know,” said Shearer. “I hope I'm wrong, but I just get the feeling as if there's, something doesn't look right, you know? I don't get the feeling that it's all perfect at the football club

.“Last week, there was lack in energy, there was lack in a spark. Even when it was 11 v 11, but it was a great result against Southampton.

“But even, even 11 v 11, they were second best. So I was thinking they've had a week to work on things but then today, apart from the first 10 minutes in the first half, I thought they were pretty awful. I didn't like what I was seeing.

“But I expect a lot more from [them]. Eddie is always about the energy and the pressure and everything, I didn't see any of that.”