Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe
Newcastle United's summer plans will not be disrupted by losing out to Manchester United on Bryan Mbeumo. The Magpies have clear ambitions when it comes to squad recruitment in the coming window, and have specific targets identified.
Mbeumo and Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap were thought to be high on the club's wishlist, but were by far not the only names of interest this summer. Eddie Howe and the club's hierarchy have been clear with their ambitions and their business will be conducted from a shortlist of targets.
United had spoken to Delap's representatives over a potential £30m move, but the England Under-21 striker has opted to sign for Chelsea. Meanwhile Mbuemo is said to prefer a switch to Old Trafford with a bumper pay packet, although a deal is yet to agreed.
Newcastle have set their stall out to sign a new central defender, a right-sided forward and a back-up striker, with a goalkeeper also said to be high on the agenda. Midfield options could also feature depending on potential exits, with Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock linked with moves away.
As per usual, the club are keeping their intentions close to their chest, but Howe warned against expecting big-name signings this summer following the final game of the Premier League season against Everton.
"If he is already established then the wages and the financial package becomes difficult for us, speaking honestly," Howe said last month. "As much as we'd want, and as much as it is easier for me to bring in a ready made established world class player, I don't think we have done that since I've been here.
"We have not been able to and not been in that position, the position of other clubs. We have to bring them in and make them that (world class). I don't envisage that changing because of the PSR restraints on us."
The intention is to avoid long, drawn-out transfer negotiations which we saw last summer when United were unable to get a deal for Marc Guehi over the line. The Crystal Palace defender is back on the agenda this summer, but Newcastle are resolved to only pursue deals they feel confident of closing.
That suggests Mbeumo were perhaps never a realistic target, and that we should expect more deals such as those which brought Alexander Isak, Sven Botman, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali to the club.
With the exception of Botman, who Newcastle had tried to sign in the January window of 2022 before landing the Dutchman the following summer, those transfers were conducted swiftly and with little speculation before it was all-but signed and sealed.
With money to spend, Newcastle will act this summer and hope to get a big slice of their business done in the early part of the window, with new signings hopefully in place before the pre-season schedule gets under way against Celtic in mid-July.
There are not expected to be any PSR issues to prevent United making a move before the June 30 accounting deadline, but whereas last summer saw a frustrating and ultimate fruitless transfer chase, this year will be more cut and dried.
Just who they target remains to be seen, but it would not be a huge surprise to see players not currently linked with United in transfer gossip columns. It's what they've done before and the plan they intend to follow in the coming weeks.
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