The transfer agenda at Newcastle United this summer is a hectic one. Building on the second half of the 2021/22 season is vitally important for Eddie Howe and he will be acutely aware of where he wants to strengthen a squad that is largely full of players he has inherited.
Despite the opening of the transfer window being a week away, he and his recruitment team are already taking the first steps to address the weaknesses in the side. The wheels are said to already be in motion for the potential signings of both Sven Botman and Hugo Ekitike, two of the club’s targets in January.
Another centre-back and a striker are high on the list of priorities for Howe and co but there are other positions that will be targeted over the next few weeks and months. The United manager has made it clear that he is keen to have two goalkeepers fighting for the number one spot and that could be where attention turns next.
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Robert Sanchez and Dean Henderson are two of the players who have been most heavily linked to challenge Martin Dubravka but nothing has been forthcoming as of yet. The Manchester United number two was being widely tipped to be on the verge of agreeing a deal but there have been no further advancements in the last couple of weeks.
As for Sanchez, Brighton are understood to have set a £50m asking price on the head of their goalkeeper after two impressive Premier League campaigns. That price tag is unlikely to tempt United, or any other potential suitors, but it represents how much the Spaniard is worth to the Seagulls as one of the true goalkeeping all-rounders in the top flight.
A left-back is another of the positions that needs to be strengthened at St James’ Park following the completion of Matt Targett’s loan. Howe might be keen to pay the £15m that is required to sign the Aston Villa defender permanently following his impressive loan spell but competition from elsewhere might lead to United looking elsewhere.
Renan Lodi of Atletico has been quite heavily linked with a move to St James’ Park where he would be reunited with former team mate Kieran Trippier. His expected price tag, which could be in excess of £30m, might prove to be a stumbling block in any potential deal.
The risk associated with such a signing might also see Howe prefer Targett due to the knowledge of what the Englishman brings to the team. Although, the demand amongst supporters to bring Targett to Tyneside permanently could well be superseded by Howe’s desire to sign a left-sided defender who is more proficient offensively.
Elsewhere, while not necessarily considered priority positions, further cover in the middle of midfield or in the wide attacking positions might be on the agenda. On the wings, Allan Saint-Maximin is the only player to have truly cemented a place under Howe and there were even rumours heading into the summer that he might be on the move, for the right price.
Miguel Almiron has impressed on a few occasions in the second half of the season but questions continue to be asked as to whether he’s good enough to hold down a regular place in the starting XI. Ryan Fraser and Jacob Murphy have also shown their worth to the squad but are unlikely to be long-term starters for United going forward.
As for centre midfielders, the Magpies are relatively well-stocked but Howe may want to add another to ensure he’s got two players in each midfield role. In the holding position, he’s got Jonjo Shelvey and Sean Longstaff while Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes and Joe Willock are the options to fill the two box-to-box number eight roles. An injury of anything more than a few weeks to any of those three would leave United short in that department.
Howe may feel that, dependent on this summer’s incomings, he can deviate away from the 4-3-3 formation that worked so well in the second half of the season. A more attacking midfielder could be a profile he wants to add to the squad to play in front of a deeper midfield pair and behind Callum Wilson.
Whichever players Howe chooses to add to his squad, he will view them as capable of becoming key members of a Newcastle team bidding for a long-awaited return to European competition. He will also be keen to get any transfer business wrapped up before the Premier League returns in just over two months’ time.
