Football pundit Jeff Stelling has urged Eddie Howe to bring Manchester City star Jack Grealish to Newcastle United this summer after missing out on Joao Pedro.
The news came as a bitter blow on Sunday night, one of the Magpies’ long-standing transfer targets has decided to snub a move to the North East in favour of Chelsea, a club already loaded with attackers.
Newcastle United must now look for other options who fit the same bill as Joao Pedro did – a versatile attacker who can partner with Alexander Isak next season. While the feeling was that Pedro to Newcastle was looking likely, it was revealed that the Brazilian always wanted Chelsea and appears to have led Eddie Howe up the garden path in negotiations.
Pedro is having his medical with Chelsea, while Newcastle must look elsewhere. One name who has been brought up is Manchester City’s Jack Grealish. The 29-year-old looks set to leave the Etihad Stadium this summer after falling out of favour with Pep Guardiola.
Reports have suggested that Newcastle are interested in signing Grealish on loan this summer, but his wages would make him the club’s highest earner by a big margin.
With Grealish looking set to leave Man City, Jeff Stelling has said exactly why he believes he is the right player for Newcastle.
Jack Grealish applauds the fans after a Premier League game between Manchester City and Bournemouth.
Photo by Lee Parker – CameraSport via Getty Images
Jeff Stelling urges Newcastle United to sign Jack Grealish
It has been a rough season for Grealish, and it only got worse when it was revealed that he had been left out of Guardiola’s Club World Cup squad.
While a loan is the more likely option, Newcastle could sign Grealish for £50m this summer. However, they must contend with the likes of Everton and Serie A champions Napoli for his signature.
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The topic of Pedro’s move to Chelsea was a big talking point on TalkSPORT on Monday morning, but Stelling believes Grealish would be the right person for Newcastle to sign instead of Pedro.
On Grealish, Stelling said: “If I’m Newcastle now, this is off the top of my head. He’s not exactly the same player, but if I’m Newcastle, I’m looking at Jack Grealish and thinking ‘what a job he can do for us’.
“I’ve no idea how much he’s gonna cost and obviously comes with big, big wages.”
Grealish is the highest-earning English player in the Premier League, earning a whopping £300,000-a-week at Man City. If Newcastle were to do any sort of deal, that figure would have to come down significantly.
Newcastle United should sign James McAtee over Jack Grealish
While Newcastle appear to have an interest in Grealish, the England international does not share the same feeling. A new report stated that Grealish is assessing his options amid Newcastle’s interest, and will likely wait until later in the transfer window to make signings.
In the meantime, Newcastle should go all out and target James McAtee, Grealish’s teammate at Man City.
The 22-year-old was sensational at the Under-21 European Championships with England, bagging an assist in the final to help the Young Lions pick up their second straight trophy. McAtee played at the same time as Newcastle star Tino Livramento for England’s Under-21s, so fans will hope that he can get in his ear to tempt him into joining the Magpies this summer.
McAtee was not given much game time last season, but was able to show his qualities whenever he played. It has been confirmed that McAtee is free to leave Man City this summer, with reports stating there are several Bundesliga sides interested in him.
Howe should see it as of the utmost importance to bring McAtee to Newcastle this summer. The youngster is versatile, something Howe wants in all of his players. Additionally, he has a lot of time to continue growing to become an important member of the Magpies’ starting XI.