00:00Now, as Newcastle United are the new Premier League season and their return back to the Champions League.
00:07Now, in terms of transfers, it's been very quiet so far.
00:11But, you know, as soon as July sort of kicks in, these transfers start to hot up and there are sort of multiple rumours, multiple more moves.
00:20And Newcastle United are probably going to be a club that are going to slightly make a few adjustments.
00:25I mean, if you have to compare their sort of last Champions League campaign and where they fell short, the squad depth.
00:31Yes, they were very unlucky in multiple occasions against some bigger sides in Europe.
00:36But, you know, their squad depth certainly hurt them with the key injuries as well.
00:41And then fitness issues throughout the season ultimately meant they fell short in their race to return.
00:46Now, they are back in the Champions League.
00:48They obviously have also returned a major trophy as well in the League Cup.
00:53This is a new sort of era, a new start again for Newcastle United.
00:58Who knows where they can go this season?
01:00They want to make sure they are continuing to push on in terms of the transfer activity.
01:04We'll go with our North East correspondent, Dan Wales.
01:07Dan, just talk to us a bit about where Newcastle are, how they are feeling ahead of the new summer, how, you know, the new season, sorry,
01:15how they are activating this summer in terms of where they might need to improve on and the sort of picky parts that they have to get right because, you know,
01:25they want to make sure they are comfortable with squad depth.
01:28They want to make sure they are having a fairly good season domestically and in Europe as well.
01:33So, where are they ahead of this new campaign?
01:36Well, Charles, it seems as if everything and nothing is happening at Newcastle United at the same time, which is quite a weird thing to say, but it's probably true.
01:45There's a lot of talk of transfer activity and yet nothing actually happening or at least nothing tangible yet at St James' Park.
01:52So, that's where we stand with Newcastle United.
01:55It's a hard one to sort of grasp at the moment because they've bid for players so far and been unsuccessful in all of their bids at present.
02:02Of course, some targets have gone elsewhere.
02:05Brian Linguemo looks like he's going to go as Manchester United, although he also has said he's happy staying at Brentford if that deal doesn't materialise.
02:14João Pedro, of course, another Newcastle target.
02:16Newcastle bid for him, but he's now gone to Chelsea instead from Brighton.
02:21Those who do remain at the table are, of course, Anthony Alanga of Nottingham Forest and, indeed, James Trafford of Burnley.
02:28Newcastle have had bids, but both of those players turned down, although Newcastle certainly have agreed personal terms with James Trafford.
02:35In fact, they've been agreed for probably a year by now.
02:38I think Trafford has always been happy to come to Newcastle, but the two clubs are yet to strike up a deal in terms of the actual transfer fee.
02:46Then, if you look at Anthony Alanga, Newcastle had a bid of around £45 million turned down.
02:53Reports are now suggesting that they've bid an increased amount of over £50 million.
02:58Forest are reluctant sellers.
03:00They do want more close to the £60 million margin, but Newcastle perhaps more confident that a bid in the region of £55 plus may be able to see them get the deal struck up with Nottingham Forest.
03:13Of course, that hasn't been agreed yet as things standard and at present.
03:17So, that's what I mean by at the moment.
03:19Everything is happening and yet nothing is happening.
03:22Newcastle remaining unfazed, apparently, behind the scenes.
03:25There's no actual panic.
03:27Anyhow, returning to the club from his holiday at the moment.
03:31And so, he'll take over or at least become more involved in the negotiations because, of course, at the moment, Newcastle don't have a sporting director with Paul Mitchell now having departed the club.
03:41Although, negotiations are and interviews are underway in terms of his replacement.
03:46So, at the moment, Newcastle feels a bit like a...
03:50I think from the outside, supporters are getting a bit nervous, a little bit tetchy.
03:55Because, of course, last season it was slightly similar in the sense that they put all their eggs in one basket going for Marguerite for Christophe Paris and that didn't come off.
04:03Newcastle bid upwards of £60 million and yet they weren't able to get him.
04:07And just on Marguerite, their interest has cooled on him, according to reports as well.
04:12But, at the moment, negotiations being led by Eddie Howe's nephew, Andy Howe and Steve Nixon, of course, the head of recruitment.
04:19So, it's an interesting dynamic that Newcastle have got at the moment.
04:23You know, you look at Sunderland down the road, they've got two directors in terms of Christian Speakman and their new one they've just appointed as well as a director of football.
04:30And yet, Newcastle really only have their head coach and some of their key transfer people.
04:35So, tough one to call at the moment in Newcastle.
04:38They will bring people in, but it's a waiting game, but fans are starting to get a little bit impatient.
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