The £68m reason that proves Paul Mitchell is right after divisive Newcastle United transfer claim

NewcastleWorld and Shields Gazette editor Liam Kennedy and Newcastle United writers Dominic Scurr and Jordan Cronin provide regular news, analysis and reaction to all things happening at St James’ Park.

And in this week’s edition, the lads discuss the fallout from Paul Mitchell’s first sit-down interview with journalists since joining as sporting director in July. There was a lot to digest from the 90-minute chat, but one comment in particular has split opinion.

On the back of summer where United were forced to sell Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to comply with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and then follow that up with no new major signings after refusing to stump up £70million to sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, Mitchell questioned if the club’s current transfer strategy is fit for purpose.

Mitchell said: "Should our scouting and recruitment be driven more extensively with a wider reaching net? It definitely should be because this is becoming a really nuanced space now, when you just can't capitally fund everything every year and buying loads of players at peak age and peak price. Of course it needs to be, and that's the responsibility of me, the scouting team, the recruitment team and Eddie. To do that, to look at that. Is it fit for purpose? 

"Not last winter gone, the winter before that. Is it fit for purpose in the modern game, with the modern challenges? Because other clubs that have maybe adopted a different approach over time, with more intelligence, maybe more data-informed than what we are, actually prospered, didn't they, this window? And I think that's where we have to grow to be now.”

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Mitchell’s view has proved divisive, reportedly upsetting former top brass, but Liam believes he has raised a valid point.

Liam said: “I get the argument where people say Bruno Guimaraes, Sven Botman, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak were fit for purpose, however, I think that’s almost isolating just the incomings part of the transfer strategy. In thinking about the whole strategy, there’s got to be a bit more deeper analysis which is where I think that argument falls short.

“Essentially, buying players and just buying what you see as top quality players to fit straight into the team and not allowing anybody to go or not selling players doesn’t work. The model was broken and that was proven this summer.

“It doesn’t mean they didn’t sign good players because they did, however, the strategy was flawed because they had to go and sell Elliot Anderson. Yankuba Minteh has gone, and less painful I would say, and it solved a big hole which was created by the transfer strategy. So, in my opinion, I think Mitchell has made a really important point.

“The way of going about things when you’re signing £40m, £50m or £60m players who are ready-made to walk into the first-team and not be good sellers doesn’t work.

“His strategy is probably going to be more along the lines of signing lesser players with more room to grow and develop, and probably more of them and a few of them will be sold. He’s probably right in his strategy.”

Watch Geordie Journos every Monday at 10:30pm on Freeview channel 262 & Freely channel 565, or on ShotsTV.com by clicking here.