Newcastle eyeing ‘big signings’ this summer with two already on Howe’s radar – Report
The January window may have only shut a few weeks ago, but Newcastle’s recruitment department will already be planning for what promises to be a busy summer on Tyneside.
First-team additions are needed after three windows with very little activity, but the standout positions in need of strengthening appear to be on the right-wing and at right-sided centre-back.
Miguel Almiron’s exit leaves us light on the right, while Fabian Schar has shown signs of decline in recent weeks. The Swiss can still do a job, I’m sure, but he’s 34 later this year and needs a younger option to keep him on his toes.
Two players on Newcastle’s radar
As revealed by Mark Douglas at the i, Newcastle’s PSR situation will allow them to pursue several targets deemed non-starters last month for financial reasons.
He reports that the club should be in a position to think about ‘big signings’ again and they have two players who’ve been watched closely in recent months; PSV’s Johan Bakayoko and Bournemouth centre-back Illia Zabarnyi.
It’s believed the club are keen to invest and prove our ambition to top players such as Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon this summer after a frustrating few transfer windows.
PSV are expected to demand ‘in excess of £40m’ for Bakayoko this summer, with The Telegraph also reporting
that he’s been discussed in high-level recruitment meetings – but was deemed too expensive in January due to our PSR situation at the time.
As for Zabarnyi, he would not come cheap and would be tough to prise away from an in-form Bournemouth side currently above us in the Premier League and pushing for a surprise place in next season’s Champions League.
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