Newcastle United's next transfer priority?

Shields Gazette

Joe Buck takes a look at what Newcastle United's next priority must be in the transfer market. The Magpies have concluded a deal to sign Anthony Elanga but will be keen to spend big and continue to strengthen Eddie Howe's squad.

Transcript

00:00So Newcastle United have completed their first signing of the summer.

00:03Of course, Anthony Langer has joined £452 million from Nottingham Forest.

00:08And it's, after a few weeks of frustration, it's good to get that one over the line.

00:11But what is next for Newcastle, you know?

00:12Are they going to be someone that, you know, settles with what they've got?

00:16Or are they really going to attack this transfer market?

00:19Like we've not seen in the last few windows, you know,

00:21they've really, since 2023, they've not had the financial capabilities

00:25of going out and spending big money.

00:26Now, they've already spent heavily on a Langer,

00:28you know, he becomes the third most expensive signing in the club's history

00:31behind Isak and, of course, Sandro Tonali.

00:34But where do Newcastle go next?

00:36Now, lots of reports about James Trafford

00:38and whether he will become a Newcastle United player.

00:40They've been interested in him for about a year now.

00:42You know, the deal was close to getting done last year,

00:45but financial reasons just meant they had to pull that.

00:48Newcastle had to pull that deal.

00:49He's again on their radar this year.

00:51Lots of reports that they're in negotiations with Burnley,

00:53but a fee has yet to be sort of agreed with them.

00:56And, of course, Burnley are going to hold out a lot of money,

00:59you know, for a lot of money.

01:00He's at number one.

01:01He was brilliant last year.

01:02He set championship records left, right and centre.

01:05So he is fantastic.

01:06And Burnley have every right to demand a lot of money.

01:08And as much as James Trafford is one that Newcastle fans

01:10have got their heart and their ideas on,

01:13I don't think that it's Newcastle's next, you know, main priority.

01:16I don't think a goalkeeper is someone

01:17that they should be breaking the bank for right now.

01:20Of course, everyone would love to see James Trafford in

01:22and if they can get a deal for him, then that is good.

01:25But their next transfer priority for me

01:26has to be a striker, a backup striker for Alexander Isak.

01:30You know, Callum Wilson's left the club now.

01:33Will Asula is very raw

01:35and he's often performed best, I think, when he's been out wide.

01:37He had a brilliant summer for Denmark

01:39and maybe that sort of helped his confidence.

01:40But right now, Newcastle need a backup striker to Isak.

01:43That's got to be their main thing.

01:45You know, Isak is brilliant.

01:46I can, you know, stand here and spend five minutes

01:48about why he's the best striker in the world.

01:50But let's face it, Newcastle are going to play

01:52at least 40 or at least 50 games next year.

01:55Sorry, so they've got 38 Premier League games

01:57and at least eight Champions League games.

02:01I need hope, at least two, you know,

02:03Cup games, I need hope a little bit further.

02:04So say 50 games at least,

02:06maybe even in the mid-50s have been progressing

02:08in all them competitions.

02:10Isak can't play all them games.

02:11Isak's probably limited to maybe 40 games, I would say,

02:14you know, at the highest level.

02:15You need someone to be able to play 15 games

02:17or to come on for half an hour

02:19so then give Isak a rest.

02:20And they need to get that sorted now

02:21because if that drags on to later in the summer,

02:24other clubs will know how desperate they are.

02:25Of course, Isak's situation,

02:27as much as Newcastle United are going to keep him this summer

02:30and I think that it would take a beyond world record

02:32or, you know, close to the world record for another club to sign him,

02:36there is that possibility

02:37that someone does just slap down a load of money

02:39and then you guys will become really desperate

02:41because other than, as I mentioned before,

02:43Willis, who they haven't got any other recognised attacker,

02:46striker, sorry, Anthony Gordon can play there if needed.

02:49Alanga maybe can play there.

02:50But they need someone, an out-and-out striker

02:52who can play 30 minutes in the Premier League

02:54or can even start Premier League games,

02:56can start cup games,

02:57maybe even start a Champions League game

02:58if they need to rest Isak

02:59because it's not just about managing Isak's injuries.

03:02You know, he's struggled with a groin injury

03:04towards the end of last season,

03:05but of course had to play

03:06because he is the club's main man.

03:08It's about making sure that his minutes are controlled

03:11so he can be at his best for every minute he's on the pitch

03:13because if he's not, you know, he can't go in and out of games,

03:16he can't be sort of lost in games.

03:19I think if they can get someone,

03:21they can make sure that Isak is at full fitness

03:23and a full flight for all the season.

03:25We all know Isak's guaranteed goals

03:26and if he's at full fitness on the pitch

03:28and being able to give his best,

03:30then he will score goals.

03:31They need someone to back him up and go,

03:32right, I'm going to play 30 minutes here

03:34or Newcastle, you know, big Champions League game in the week.

03:37Can we get someone to start the Premier League game,

03:39I don't know, away at Burnley

03:40or, you know, they've got a home game against West Ham.

03:43Can we put someone in instead of Isak,

03:44give them a bit of a rest for that game?

03:47Evans, you know, former Evans striker,

03:49Dominic Carvalhoen has been mentioned.

03:50I think that would be a shrewd move.

03:52I don't think he'll be one that gets,

03:53you know, bums off season there,

03:55you know, would be,

03:57it wouldn't be the highlight of this summer,

03:58but I think they could do a lot worse than Carvalhoen

04:00if he can stay fit.

04:01His injury record isn't great

04:02and, of course, that was one of the main frustrations

04:03of Cam Wilson's sort of last couple of years

04:06on time side that his injury record,

04:07he just wasn't there enough

04:08to be able to support Isak.

04:10So Carvalhoen would be one.

04:11Hugo Eketike has been mentioned.

04:12I think that's a really hard deal to do,

04:14not just the finances involved,

04:15but the player himself knows

04:16that he probably won't want to come

04:18and be a backup to Isak.

04:19Now, does that feature proof Newcastle

04:21if Isak goes next summer?

04:23Maybe.

04:23You know, Eketike is very much

04:24of a similar mould to Isak,

04:26but that would be a hard deal

04:28to get done this summer, I think.

04:30So yeah, Newcastle United

04:31are going to have to go out.

04:32They're going to have to backsmart,

04:33you know, they've already seen

04:34Liam De Lape move to Chelsea.

04:35One of the big reasons for that

04:36is he didn't want to play second fiddle to Isak,

04:39so they're going to have to try

04:40and either convince someone

04:42to play second striker

04:43or someone in the mould of Eketike

04:45where it's, you know,

04:47their future proof in case of Isak's sale,

04:48which, you know,

04:49it would send,

04:50I don't think it would send alarm bells,

04:51but I think everyone recognises

04:52that Isak's probably got one year left

04:54in Newcastle before the interest

04:56really peaks in him

04:57and, you know,

04:57lots of clubs come in for him.

04:58But yeah, right now,

04:59Newcastle United,

05:00for me, have to go for the tag.

05:01They have to go at someone

05:02back up Isak.

05:03They've done well with Alanga

05:04and if they get James Trafford

05:05over there, that would be great.

05:06And if they get another centre-back as well,

05:07that would be fantastic.

05:08But they have to go

05:09and get someone

05:09for a backup striker at Isak.

05:12Isak.

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