Sky Sports News reporter Pete Graves has praised an unsung hero at Newcastle United who has been going under the radar for the deals he is doing behind the scenes.
The transfer window is in full swing, and Eddie Howe’s recruitment team are hard at work to bring in the players he needs ahead of the highly anticipated 2025/26 season.
Newcastle United are set to announce the signing of Anthony Elanga for a fee of £52million with add-ons, and now the focus is on improving other positions in the starting XI. It has been reported Newcastle are edging closer to a deal for James Trafford, but nothing has been agreed as it stands.
In the meantime, Howe is also keen on signing a centre-back. Giorgio Scalvini is linked with Newcastle, but reports suggest the defender could cost as much as £52m this summer.
While much of the fans’ focus is on the first team, work has been going on behind the scenes to significantly improve the talent in Newcastle’s academy. Newcastle signed 16-year-old Alfie Hutchison from Rangers in June alongside midfielder Oliver Goodbrand.
With the academy now booming, Pete Graves has taken the time to praise the person who is pulling the strings.
Steve Harper poses in front of the Newcastle United academy sign.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Pete Graves praises Steve Harper for Newcastle United’s academy recruitment
It is a fantastic time to be a part of Newcastle’s academy, players are getting their chance to impress in first-team training and some are even being named in matchday squads.
Sean Neave is yet to make his professional debut, but was named in a handful of squads towards the end of the Premier League season. The youngster even picked up a Carabao Cup winners’ medal after being named on the bench for the final at Wembley.
MORE NEWCASTLE STORIES
Elsewhere, the likes of Lewis Miley graduated from Newcastle’s academy and is now regarded as one of the Premier League’s most promising midfielders. Academy signings are being made left, right and centre at Newcastle, something that has not gone unnoticed by Graves.
Talking to the Loaded Mag podcast about the academy, Graves said: “As fans, we get frustrated when we’re not adding loads and loads of players to the first-team squad, but the kids that are coming through are unreal now. I mean, the work that’s gone on behind the scenes in the academy, the likes of Steve Harper and honestly, some of those young players.
“If you look now at England Under-16s, there are four or five Newcastle players in the squad. I’m not talking about the Under 23s, I’m going right down in the academy. They’re signing them from everywhere now.
“Back in the day, that whole squad would have been local lads, which is great for lads in Newcastle. But now they’re building, they’re picking the best players from Luton, from Charlton, all these clubs building the future.”
Newcastle United’s academy is gaining a brilliant reputation
After years of neglect under Mike Ashley and several promising young players being sold, Newcastle finally have an academy they can be proud of.
Fans are seeing young players getting their opportunity to impress in the first team under Howe, with some even becoming regular starters.
There is no doubt Howe will include a big list of young players in his squad for pre-season. The Magpies have a busy schedule ahead of them, so it is likely that Newcastle will rotate throughout their six games.
Pre-season will also be an opportunity for some of those young players who were named on the bench but did not play in the first team to shine. Sean Neave signed a new deal with Newcastle and has been told he will play at some point.
Elsewhere, Leo Shahar has high hopes for his Newcastle future after signing a new deal upon turning 18.