Former Newcastle United star Rob Lee knows a thing or two about playing in midfield for the club and he believes that Jacob Ramsey needs to show more.
Indeed, Lee is one of Newcastle United’s greatest-ever midfielders and the engine room was previously a key area of strength under Eddie Howe.
This season, however, it has been bypassed all too often even despite the presence of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton – who proved so effective during the 2024/25 campaign.
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Quotes from Eddie Howe on Newcastle United losing Alexander Isak. It reads: "Losing Alex was a considerable blow for us."
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Ramsey was signed to supplement that trio and the jury is still out on whether bringing him in for a reported fee of £39million rising to a potential £43million was a wise idea.
Indeed, Ramsey has proven to be inconsistent for Newcastle, and it’s fair to say that Lee hasn’t been bowled over.
Lee doesn’t think Ramsey has proved convincing at Newcastle
Speaking on The Adopted Geordies podcast, Lee said: “Have the new players made us a better team? Have Elanga, Woltemade, Wissa, have they made it? Ramsey, have they made us a better team? No. So their signings so far are not successful signings.”
The host then added: “Ramsey’s getting there.”
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Lee then continued: “I mean, we know it’s been the last few games, he’s been good, but don’t forget we’re in March and he was £40million, so we expect him to be at least where he is.
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Newcastle United chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan in the stands at St James' Park, Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe looks to the ground
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“I do, because he looks like a bloody good player. And we haven’t seen that, maybe we haven’t seen it because our midfield is the strongest department.”
It would surely be difficult for anyone to disagree with what Lee is saying.
Jacob Ramsey playing for Newcastle United against Fulham in the Carabao Cup.
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Not many new signings have worked out, and Ramsey is certainly not an exception to what has become a rule this season.
The 24-year-old hasn’t been all bad, of course, and a nasty injury sustained against Leeds back in August did derail his early progress.
Still, it would be natural to expect more from a player who cost such big money.
Newcastle insiders rate Ramsey highly and he certainly deserves another season on Tyneside.
With upheaval expected in the midfield department this summer, perhaps there will be more opportunities for him to regularly start games next season.
Ramsey certainly shouldn’t be written off yet, but there’s little doubt that there needs to be a big improvement before anyone can seriously say that his signing has been worthwhile.
Ramsey has made 36 appearances for Newcastle, of which 21 have come from the start.
During that time, he has scored two goals while registering one assist.
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