The exit of Anthony Gordon must be followed up by a signature arrival
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe and (clockwise from top), David Hopkinson, Sandro Tonali, Yasir Al-Rumayyan and Ross Wilson
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe and (clockwise from top), David Hopkinson, Sandro Tonali, Yasir Al-Rumayyan and Ross Wilson
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All right, it's one out but, much more importantly to Geordies, when will it be one in and who will don Magpie black and white?
Newcastle's first signing in what will be a season-defining summer had better be a signature one because anything else - like a John Ruddy - would be deflating. United have to make a statement of intent after a 12th place finish in the Premier League and a mass debate on the future of manager Eddie Howe.
I would like to see us address the complete spine of the team from goalkeeper to centre-forward though I doubt if we'll sign a centre-half or No 9. We bought for both positions a year ago - Malick Thiaw, Yoanne Wissa and Nick Woltemade - and therefore probably won't revisit our sins.
Thiaw has all the attributes but we've had an vastly ageing defence, Lewis Hall apart, and could do with adding burning pace in there as well. We can get caught flat footed.
The Mags have got to give their fans some genuine hope that their dreams are not breaking up but they must also give hope to the big names who are willing to stay that they are not wasting their time and, I guess, give some hope to Howe himself that he can rebuild and regroup.
The consistent word out of St James' Park is that United will be proactive this close season, both incoming and outgoing, and they have started the departure process with Anthony Gordon but talking is one thing and doing very much another. Geordies want to see those arriving do so early over the brow of the hill.
Gordon is off to the World Cup with England this very Monday having flown the Magpie nest last Thursday when he jetted to Barcelona with his medical card in hand.
Although the transfer window doesn't open until June 15 both parties were keen to bring the deal to a conclusion as early as possible and then rubber-stamp the move in the middle of the month.
Gordon didn't go on strike like Alexander Isak but Eddie Howe stood him down for United's last six games of the season. Effectively because his mind had already left the building before he and his luggage followed. Our Scouser hardly looked peeved at his isolation. He was happy and the club were happy for him to leave.
Perhaps he ought to send Isak a thank you card for changing United's outlook on unsettled stars and letting them go before valuable time is wasted. There was never any need to get nasty to force the club's hand. Compromise rather than confrontation was the name of the game in town.
Gordon handled his Barca Press conference cleverly, making all the right noises about them and United. He left a lengthy goodbye note for the Newcastle supporters and spoke a little in Spanish to win over his new locals but in truth whether it was Barcelona, Bayern or AN Other he was always going to be off. He was determined to move onwards and upwards.
In that respect we were a stepping stone to somewhere just as Everton were. Remember not so long back Gordon was desperate to leave Geordie shores for Liverpool. Fair enough but, ta-ra, now we move on.
United have got themselves wriggle room so let's wriggle as quickly as possible. We have a history of being as slow as snails in the transfer market but this particular window we must be Speedy Gonzales. That is my worry.
What we need now is to get in a keeper, right-back et al with one-eyed determination and sort out who else is going to take the parachute alongside Gordon. Sandro Tonali? Tino Livramento? Joe Willock? Jacob Murphy? Wissa or Woltemade? Even Bruno?
If body language betrayed Isak and at times Gordon then I believe the same has happened with two on that list. I will leave you for the moment to decide who they are.
Who goes will determine which positions become priority for Howe. All won't be off of course but any of them could depending on offers. There is a lot of shifting sand at SJP and time is an enemy not a comfort.
Perhaps ironically when all scrutiny is on who comes in and goes out a key, if not the key, to a thriving next season could lie right here within SJP. Can Howe and his coaches solve the Woltemade conundrum?
I have been and still am utterly bemused as to why United paid a club record fee for a player who could never fit into Howe's high octane, high pressing style of pacey power. Nick is meant to operate in a possession based side.
Now on the eve of the World Cup finals German's manager has weighed into Howe and the way he has tried to utilise Woltemade.
Julian Nagelsman has been brutally blunt. "Nick's not a classic counter-attacking striker," he maintained confirming what many think. "At Newcastle he's often 70 metres away from goal which makes it difficult for him to get into the box.
"You have to get him closer to goal. The way we play will suit him because he has shorter distances to the goal."
What we and Eddie are about to witness will be revealing and could force United's boss into having to make a critical decision. Either change the style on which he has based his NUFC success or try to flog the German on the back of the World Cup.
A jury which is more split on Woltemade than on Howe himself will be casting a critical eye.