Former Aston Villa manager feels Newcastle United will rue transfer window error

Former Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish believes Newcastle United could face issues after their failure to add to their squad on transfer deadline day.

Magpies manager Eddie Howe added defensive duo Sven Botman and Matt Targett to his ranks earlier this summer and also completed a £10million deal for England goalkeeper Nick Pope.

However, United’s biggest deal - and the costliest in their history - came when they handed over an initial fee of around £58million to sign Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak in the final week of the summer window.

Several attempts were made to add further quality to the Magpies squad with the likes of Leicester City duo James Maddison and Youri Tielemans, Chelsea star Christian Pulisic and Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland Niles all linked with a move to Tyneside in the final days of August.

However, Howe’s final business of the summer revolved around outgoing with experienced defender Federico Fernandez joining Spanish club Elche and a number of younger players finding loan moves to clubs in the Football League and Scotland.

Former Scotland manager McLeish believes Howe may rue the club’s inability to add another winger to his squad as he looks to challenge in the top half of the Premier League this season.

He told Football Insider: “I think maybe a winger, they don’t have too much depth there.

“Well, they have depth but there isn’t a lot of quality once someone like Saint-Maximin gets injured.

“I’m sure they tried, we know they have the resources. Maybe Isak can play out wide but he’s going to play through the middle while (Callum) Wilson is out.

“It’s a funny one, I just think they will rue not getting a winger in as the season goes on because we know what is going to happen with injuries.”

The Magpies will have another opportunity to add to their squad when the winter transfer window opens at midnight on 1st January.