The key Newcastle United position Paul Mitchell & Eddie Howe must strengthen in the January transfer window
A lot has changed at Newcastle United under the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. The right wing position, however, has not.
No, I’m not talking about the political standpoint - sorry Sir John Hall. This is something far bigger and much more important... Jacob Murphy or Miguel Almiron?
It is a question few could have imagined being asked three years on from celebrating a takeover by the richest sovereign wealth fund in the world. However, it is a genuine dilemma for head coach Eddie Howe heading into next weekend’s Premier League clash at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Newcastle have spent around £450million on new signings since January 2022, yet none of that has gone on a right forward. That has to change.
This isn’t an attack on Murphy or Almiron, who, I’d like to make clear, have been terrific for the football club. It is to their credit that when United rapidly progressed from relegation battlers to Champions League qualifiers, the pair grew in tandem.
Almiron’s goals between September and October that season helped get Newcastle to the Champions League and his strike against Paris Saint-Germain 12 months ago got the ball rolling on a St James’ Park night for the ages.
Murphy, meanwhile, is the boyhood Newcastle fan living the dream. He too, after being written off by many, has made some key contributions and undoubtedly has a place in Eddie Howe’s squad moving forward.
But neither he, or Almiron, should be relied upon to start games for sustained period.
In an attack line where Newcastle have splashed out £63million on Alexander Isak, £45m on Anthony Gordon and even £38m on Harvey Barnes, strengthening the right side feels like the missing piece of the jigsaw for a club that aspires to challenge the top four again.
January will come round quick and there are suggestions sporting director Paul Mitchell will revisit a deal for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi but I’d argue a right forward is far more pressing, especially with both Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles due back in the New Year.