Eddie Howe has reunited with his former player Lloyd Kelly at St James’ Park, securing him on a free transfer. Aside from Kelly, Newcastle have only brought in two backup goalkeepers and a young prospect.
Recent weeks have brought optimism to Newcastle fans with the appointment of director of football Paul Mitchell. Transfer activity now hinges on his efforts, as he strives to kickstart Newcastle’s market dealings.
One player eager to join Newcastle awaits Mitchell’s finalization of a deal. Following the 2023/24 season, it became clear Newcastle needed reinforcements.
Injuries disrupted Howe’s plans, leading to their drop from European contention after Manchester United won the FA Cup. It was evident Newcastle were ill-prepared for both Champions League football and maintaining competitiveness across all fronts.
However, Newcastle have yet to make a significant signing, despite interest from AC Milan centre-back Malick Thiaw in potentially moving to Tyneside. While Thiaw is open to staying in Milan, he is intrigued by the challenge of the Premier League. Milan are reportedly open to offers around €45m (£38m) for the German defender.
Currently, Newcastle have offered approximately £30m for Thiaw, with Mitchell continuing negotiations. With their Premier League opener against Southampton approaching, Newcastle face a race against time to finalize any signings.
While three weeks may seem ample, Newcastle must swiftly secure their targets to integrate them before the season begins. The upcoming friendly against Hull City and subsequent tour in Japan provide opportunities for new signings to bond with the team.
Newcastle risks their signings arriving just before or during the early weeks of the season if deals are not completed promptly.
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