Newcastle United transfer window: Mixed verdicts, best signing and the one that got away
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Newcastle United capped off a busy January transfer window with the deadline day captures of Matt Targett and Dan Burn.
The pair, signed from Aston Villa and Brighton and Hove Albion, respectively, join Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood and Bruno Guimaraes in those to make the move to Tyneside.
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Hide AdHere, our NewcastleWorld deadline day team provide their verdict on the winter window that was:
Liam Kennedy: ‘Good, but was it good enough?’
Five players in and nearly £100million spent, these kind of numbers would have proven unthinkable a few short months ago.
The new owners have delivered a handful of new recruits who undoubtedly improve United’s lot - and chances of remaining in the Premier League. However, it still feels like they maybe needed at least one more.
Newcastle, for all their positive work in the month, still feel an attacking player short.
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Hide AdI do think they’ve done enough to ensure safety. They’ve outspent and out strengthened anyone in the Premier League relegation battle.
Best Signing: Kieran Trippier
United needed a right-back and they went and bought the best one available to them on the market. Without even considering their position in the Premier League table, this was a piece of very impressive business. A leader with real attacking quality and proven defensive pedigree.
Missed opportunity: Jesse Lingard
The player wanted it, Newcastle United obviously wanted it, but no deal could be struck with Manchester United. While I feel the Magpies have enough to stay up, I really feel the signing of the England international would have cemented their top-flight status.
Mark: 7/10
Predicted Premier League Finish: 17th
Jordan Cronin: ‘Newcastle achieved their January objective’
Are Newcastle stronger now compared to December 31? Yes, absolutely. Ultimately, that was the objective of January, so for me, the January transfer window went well.
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Hide AdBut that isn’t to say it’s been the perfect window. I do feel Newcastle are still short of another attacker and central defender, but that wasn’t through a lack of trying.
The new owners have essentially needed to do a summer rebuild in a four-week timeframe. Signing five new players is a terrific effort.
With £80million-plus spent, they’ve tried their utmost best to give Eddie Howe the tools to achieve Premier League survival. Not doing so will be a failure on the head coach and players’ part.
Best signing: Kieran Trippier
Was tempted to go with Bruno Guimaraes but he may need a short settling in period, whereas Trippier is already making an impact with his quality on the pitch, and his natural leadership off it.
Missed opportunity: Jesse Lingard
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Hide AdThere can be no blame on Newcastle’s part for the collapse of the Lingard deal as Manchester United messed United and the player around. But the arrival of Lingard had potential to be a game-changer, perhaps a guarantee of Premier League survival.
Mark: 8/10
Predicted Premier League finish: 17th
Toby Bryant: ‘Newcastle’s business has been commendable’
Given how notoriously difficult the January transfer window is for clubs in need, Newcastle’s business has been commendable.
Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimarães are top-class players who will be at the heart of Eddie Howe’s side in years to come. Matt Targett is reliable and hard-working who, should he stay longer than his loan spell, is another who can play in the side long term.
Fans will also be pleased with the arrivals of Chris Wood and Dan Burn who are necessary additions to mount a survival fight between now and the end of the season. Those are moves that United HAD to make and, even if not glamorous, it’s great those have got over the line.
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Hide AdThe Jesse Lingard loan would have been the cherry on top today and you’d think have guaranteed survival, but wasn’t to be, which will leave a slight feeling of disappointment for fans.
Nonetheless, it’s a window to be pleased with.
Best Signing: Kieran Trippier
Easy peasy. Brings experience and a calmness to the Newcastle side. Future captain and a statement of intent early on in the transfer window. Fans won’t get tired of seeing him in a Newcastle shirt anytime soon.
Missed opportunity: Jesse Lingard
It sounds like there’s nothing more Newcastle could have done to have pulled this off and fans have every right to feel frustrated at Manchester United for blocking it. Lingard was transformative at West Ham last season and that dynamism would have lit up St. James’ Park.
Mark: 8/10
Predicted Premier League Finish: 17th
Mark Carruthers: ‘An impressive window but could have been even better’
The main aim of the first transfer window under new owners was to give Eddie Howe an opportunity to keep the club in the Premier League. There is no doubt the squad looks better than it was at the start of the month but it still feels a little light in some key areas.
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Hide AdThat was not through a lack of trying and there were genuine attempts to add real quality at centre-back with the moves for Sven Botman and Diego Carlos. The same can be said at the top end of the pitch with the pursuit of Jesse Lingard.
Ultimately, the club’s Premier League position and the difficulty of addressing a seriously unbalanced squad during a challenging window means key targets will have to wait for now.
All focus is now on survival and staying in the Premier League is all that matters.
Best Signing: Kieran Trippier
A relatively modest transfer fee to sign an experienced England international, a La Liga winner and a true leader to add to a squad that has few. Trippier already seems to have bought into life at St James Park and will be essential to Newcastle’s hopes to preserving their Premier League status.
Missed opportunity: Sven Botman
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Hide AdThe Lille centre-back felt like someone that could have become a mainstay of the defence for the next decade. A summer move could still happen but it seems certain there will be more competition for his services as he continues to impress in France.
Mark: 7/10
Predicted Premier League Finish: 16th
Harry Roy: ‘A fantastic effort in a difficult window to operate in’
Newcastle United had 31 days to attempt to patch up a squad that was seemingly hurtling towards life in the Championship next season. The five players they’ve brought in instantly improve the side, and give Eddie Howe a fantastic chance of maintaining the club’s Premier League status.
However, it’s only natural to feel a little disappointed that moves for top centre-back targets Sven Botman and Diego Carlos, and Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard didn’t materialise. But all in all, the new owners have done a very solid job this month in what is an incredibly difficult window to operate in.
Best signing: Bruno Guimaraes
To bring in a Brazilian international for north of £30m, who has been courted by Arsenal and Juventus all month, to a side occupying a spot in the relegation zone is unheard of. Bruno Guimaraes doesn’t just improve Newcastle’s midfield massively in the short team, but at just 24-years-old, he could play a massive role in the new era at the club.
Missed opportunity: Sven Botman
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Hide AdThe 22-year-old could have been the Newcastle equivalent to when Manchester City brought in a young Vincent Kompany back in 2008 – and you get the feeling that this was the one player they may regret not pulling all the stops out to sign. It’s likely that the club will try again for the Lille defender in the summer, but will face competition from a range of top European clubs.
Mark: 7/10
Predicted Premier League Finish: 17th