Having pipped Aston Villa to a Champions League spot, Newcastle United will be looking to strengthen this summer.
Newcastle have money to spend and Eddie Howe’s squad appeared stretched at times last season, even without European football.
To boost their options in attack, Newcastle were keen to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford, only for Manchester United to seemingly win the race.
Newcastle were ultimately put off by Mbeumo’s asking price, one that they didn’t think represented value.
And perhaps in reaction to that decision, Newcastle are now said to be eyeing a move for a player who’s shown signs of serious potential under Unai Emery at Villa Park.
Newcastle eyeing bargain move to sign Jacob Ramsey from Aston Villa
According to Sky Sports in Switzerland, Newcastle are showing ‘keen interest’ in Jacob Ramsey this summer.
At 24-years-old, Ramsey has delivered some brilliant performances in a Villa shirt, but perhaps has struggled for consistency at times.
Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images
Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images
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However, that hasn’t been enough to put off Pep Guardiola, TBR Football revealed a few months ago that Manchester City were interested in Ramsey.
But now according to this new report, it’s Newcastle who are considering a move for Ramsey who is ‘not considered indispensable’ by the Villa.
The information says that Villa would not be willing to discuss a move below €35m (£29m) — a figure that does seem very low for a player of his talent.
However, the report notes that Villa have an ‘urgency’ to ‘generate cash internally’, presumably owing to their PSR concerns, which might dictate one or two of their transfer decisions this summer.
Eddie Howe needs to mastermind three or four quality signings at Newcastle
Of course, were Newcastle able to seal a deal for Ramsey at anywhere near that figure, it would be a huge coup for the recruitment team at St James’ Park.
It was recently announced that sporting director Paul Mitchell will soon leave Newcastle, leaving a bit of uncertainty around the club’s transfer business this summer.
But Mitchell’s departure will seemingly just strengthen Howe’s influence when it comes to those who are recruited for the club’s return to the Champions League.
And on the topic of Howe’s side recruiting somewhat underrated English talent, Newcastle should be targeting Noni Madueke at Chelsea, a player who is seemingly free to leave for the right price.
Clearly there will be opportunities for Newcastle this summer, who perhaps need three or four quality additions to compete on all fronts next season.