Newcastle United are changing their transfer approach in 2025.
With Paul Mitchell as sporting director, Newcastle United are going to alter the way they do business.
The former Monaco chief said earlier this year that Newcastle’s recruitment strategy was not fit for purpose, as he sets about changing the way the club operates in the transfer market.
It has been reported that Mitchell wants Newcastle to sign more players from overseas, taking advantage of untapped markets by signing younger players at a lower price. That is instead of buying domestic, as Premier League players always cost a lot more.
And in the era of PSR, the Magpies need to make sure every penny counts.
Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United (C) poses for a photo with Newcastle United Sporting Director Paul Mitchell (L) and Newcastle United Head Coach ...
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Newcastle looking elsewhere despite Bryan Mbeumo interest
That will hopefully start in the January transfer window, when Newcastle will prioritise signing a right winger. That is despite Eddie Howe still needing a centre-back after failing to get Marc Guehi in the summer.
But the search for attacking reinforcements is set to take centre stage, as Eddie Howe aims to bring in a player who can compliment Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon in attack.
Bryan Mbeumo was seen as Newcastle’s dream signing, but that deal is not going to happen. Newcastle know Mbeumo will be too expensive, as the Brentford forward continues to enjoy the best campaign of his Premier League career.
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Instead, Mitchell must look further afield.
Newcastle are interested in Johan Bakayoko, and he is the player who PIF must sign to kick off this new era of recruitment at St James’ Park.
Johan Bakayoko fits the bill for Newcastle United
When it comes to right wingers, Bakayoko ticks all of the right boxes.
At 21-years-old, he is young enough to continue improving. And he is already at a good enough standard, having excelled for PSV Eindhoven over the past couple of seasons.
When you compare him to someone like Mbeumo, he would be a much better buy. The Belgium international would be cheaper, while he is four years younger.
Bakayoko has been compared to Allan Saint-Maximin due to his skill in trickery, but the PSV star also has end product, as Graeme Bailey said.
“I think he suits Newcastle in his style of play. He’s a bit like Allan Saint-Maximin with more end product for me. He’ll get fans off their seats.
“He’s definitely on Newcastle’s list, if they are able to do something in January.”
That is because of the efforts of Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was his manager during the 2022/23 season.
On Van Nistelrooy’s influence, Bakayoko told the Athletic earlier this year: “I used to stay wide, receive the ball and dribble. But he told me, ‘If you want to score more goals, you need to be inside the box’.”
(L-R) Max Bruns of FC Twente, Johan Bakayoko of PSV during the Dutch Eredivisie match between PSV v Fc Twente at the Philips Stadium on December ...
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Newcastle can repeat Anthony Gordon trick by signing Bakayoko
Bakayoko has developed into a really clinical player in the final third, and that is reflected in the number of goals and assists he has got for PSV.
He has provided six goals and three assists so far this season, while last season he got 14 goals and 14 assists in total.
Bakayoko took Van Nistelrooy’s advice, and that resulted in him enjoying the best season of his young career.
It is a similar story for Anthony Gordon, who was Newcastle United’s best player in the 2023/24 campaign. That is because he became a difference maker in the final third, scoring 12 goals and providing 11 assists.
The Newcastle coaches turned Gordon into a goal scorer and creator, after previously struggling to have a real impact when he was at Everton. It was not for the lack of trying, as Frank Lampard always told Gordon to get in the box more. The 23-year-old only started to put that into practice when he moved to Newcastle, and Eddie Howe is reaping the rewards.
Two years on from Gordon’s £40million move from Goodison Park to St James’ Park, Newcastle could pull off a similar transfer trick.
The Magpies already have two deadly players in the final third in Gordon and Alexander Isak, but there is room for one more. Johan Bakayoko can be the missing piece of the jigsaw, and hopefully Mitchell is able to make him a Newcastle United player in January 2025.
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