Alan Shearer has said what every Newcastle United fan is thinking amid the club’s ongoing struggles in the transfer market.
Newcastle United are yet to make a breakthrough this summer, despite Eddie Howe wanting the club to move fast.
Instead, Toon fans are seeing key targets continuously move elsewhere. Liam Delap and Joao Pedro joined Chelsea, while Bryan Mbeumo is deemed too expensive for the Magpies and wants to join Manchester United.
Then there is James Trafford, who Howe has been trying to sign since 2024. Trafford has agreed personal terms with Newcastle, yet it is taking an age for a fee to be agreed with Burnley.
All the while, Paul Mitchell has left as sporting director and Darren Eales’ time as chief executive officer is coming to an end.
James Bunce, Paul Mitchell, Darren Eales and Jamie Reuben stand next to each other ahead of Newcastle United's game against Manchester City.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Alan Shearer wants Newcastle United to get active in the transfer market
There is a sense of chaos behind the scenes at St James’ Park, and Alan Shearer has told the Rest Is Football podcast that he wants to see the club step up its transfer business.
“There’s no sporting director, he’s left,” he said.
“There’s no chief executive, he’s going. They lost out to Mbeumo. They’ve lost out to Pedro. Heavily linked with James Trafford.
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“I’d like to see a little bit more activity in Newcastle, yeah.”
Gary Lineker replied: “There’s still time, Alan.”
Who is in charge of Newcastle United’s transfers right now?
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards then chimed in with a rather tongue-in-cheek question for his fellow podcaster.
Micah Richards asked Shearer: “Why don’t you go and be head of recruitment at Newcastle, don’t you fancy that?”
Shearer bluntly replied: “No.”
While Richards was obviously joking, Newcastle United do not need a head of recruitment. That honour belongs to Steve Nickson, with Eddie Howe’s nephew Andy working as his assistant.
They have taken on added responsibility in the aftermath of Mitchell’s departure, overseeing the club’s summer transfer activity with input from the Newcastle United manager too.
In the meantime, the Magpies are stepping up their pursuit of a replacement for Mitchell. Jason Ayto and Ross Wilson are Newcastle’s leading candidates right now, as they aim to appoint a third sporting director under PIF.
While it is essential that Newcastle United get that appointment right, it is more pressing that those currently at the club increase their efforts to strengthen Howe’s squad ahead of the 2025/26 season.