It is extraordinary how the imminent dawn of the January transfer window has transformed so many Newcastle United players in recent weeks.
Several players, who were looking like their best days were long gone, have suddenly started to look anything but jaded and expendable.
What this has done, of course, is position Newcastle United to rethink its transfer priorities.
Who should Newcastle be willing to part with and is there really a need to pay silly money for a new signing?
Alternatively, are these players merely flattering to deceive to secure their futures?
Take Jacob Murphy, for example. Three goals in the last two Premier League games along with multiple assists. Murphy has looked dynamic in recent weeks, and in the eyes of many probably deserved to have doubled his goal tally. This is not the Murphy that we saw earlier in the year when he struggled to hold down a spot and was often the first man to be subbed out when he did get a start.
Murphy has been firing shots on goal, creating chances by getting to the byline and showing genuine pace and determination in his attacking and defensive play. Murphy has three goals and five assists to his name this season, despite only making ten starts.
Does Anthony Elanga (two goals and two assists in a firing Nottingham Forest side) or Antoine Semenyo (five goals and one assist) offer a significant upgrade on what Murphy brings to the table?
Signing Elanga or Semenyo would chew up Newcastle’s transfer budget but for what level of improvement?
If Murphy can find the consistency that has until now often eluded him, then Newcastle would not need to invest in a costly import at right-wing.
And what about Newcastle’s central defensive pairing of Dan Burn and Fabian Schar?
Both are perceived as occupying positions that need refurbishment. Fabian Schar was surely close to being replaced by Marc Guehi at the start of the season and is still under threat from the Crystal Palace man if media noise is to be believed. The perception was of Schar showing signs of wear and tear and appeared to be getting caught out of position all too often as the season unfolded.
Bruno Guimaraes Newcastle Marc Guehi Crystal Palace
Dan Burn was also being consigned to an old people’s home for being too slow and seen as a defensive liability against pacy opposition forwards. Supporters have been impatiently awaiting the return of Sven Botman so that Dan Burn could retire to the bench.
Well let’s be honest. Burn and Schar have suddenly started looking the goods, adding goals (some disallowed) and goal saving tackles and defensive blocks to their repertoire. This pairing has certainly put up the shutters in recent weeks. Two clean sheets in the last two Premier League games perhaps being a testimony to this.
Compared to Man City’s central defensive pairing, Burn and Schar look rock solid. Well, maybe they weren’t against Liverpool, but the Reds are a class apart and a street ahead at the moment! At least they only let Liverpool score fifty percent of what they netted against Tottenham! With Sven Botman’s return and Lloyd Kelly as back up, do Newcastle need to invest heavily in a central defender like Guehi? Perhaps not.
And last, but not least, how refreshing has it been to see Martin Dubravka’s return to the first team? Having a goalkeeper who can use his feet has helped restore enormous confidence to Newcastle’s back four. Newcastle’s preference is to play out from the back, and being able to use the goalkeeper in the defensive interplay has suddenly allowed them to set up attacking moves far more swiftly and effectively in recent weeks.
Dubravka may be thirty five years old but goalkeepers are like fine wine. Surely, Dubravka has two or three more seasons to look forward to?
So, do Newcastle need a new goalkeeper? I would argue not. I would also argue that Dubravka should be first choice and Nick Pope back up, which may surprise some. Rumour has it though that Dubravka may have flights booked for Saudi Arabia.
So, what do Newcastle do in the January transfer window?
Do they need a Marc Guehi, or a James Trafford, or an Anthony Elanga? I think not. With limited funds available, perhaps the only type of signing that would clearly strengthen the first team in the short-term would be a Brian Mbeuno type player. A right winger who can also step into centre-forward. This would add goals to the forward line and provide cover for Alexander Isak should he sustain an injury.
Despite all the talk about departures, sadly, I think the one player that Newcastle may decide to cash in on is Harvey Barnes. The left winger increasingly looks like a transfer deal made in haste and a signing surplus to requirements. In addition to Antony Gordon, Newcastle have Joelinton and Joe Willock who can play on the left wing.
Players such as Almiron and Trippier, should they depart, will not help to raise much capital but Barnes may help to generate some funds to help facilitate the signing of a back-up forward, who can play on the right and through the middle. But as stated earlier, ‘Should Newcastle actually look to replenish this position?’
Newcastle’s best transfer business in the forthcoming window may well be to retain Bruno, Tonali, Isak and Gordon. And this should be achievable.
Without doubt, there is the nucleus of a very good side at St James’ Park with significant potential for future growth and development.
Aging players will need to be replaced in time but the forthcoming window may well not necessarily be that time. As the saying goes, ‘Act in haste and repent at leisure.’ In this case, meaning not getting seduced into paying overs to make marginal positional improvements.