NEWCASTLE RUMORS: CONFERENCE LEAGUE IMPLICATIONS; BIDS FOR RAMSDALE, TOSIN & KELLY

Newcastle United’s transfer strategy for the upcoming summer transfer window will hinge on their qualification for the Conference League, according to Chris Waugh of The Athletic.

In order to clinch a place in next season’s UCoL, the Magpies need Man City to beat Man Utd in the FA Cup final next weekend. Depending on that outcome, Newcastle are expected to take a different approach to the transfer market and use a different budget for both purchasing players and negotiating contracts, as well as dealing with their own homegrown players.

The club, according to Waugh’s information, is expected to offer new contracts to Paul Dummett and Matt Ritchie. Dummett’s status as a homegrown player allows Newcastle to name a larger squad, which will be doubly important if the Magpies luck themselves into the Conference League with a win by City on Sunday.

The financial benefits of the Conference League do not match those of the Champions League, but Waugh considers it an important part of Newcastle’s financial equation mostly because of its impact under the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR). Even if little, the improvement could enable the club to pursue higher-caliber signings during the next few months.

In terms of summer acquisitions, Waugh thinks Newcastle will spend “between £80 million and £100 million,” similar to their expenditure last summer.

The club aims to secure “three or four key players” and will also explore the free-agent market to snatch a few players from other clubs without having to pay a transfer fee on tope of their wages and singing bonuses.

The two players widely reported to be in Newcastle’s radar and confirmed by Waugh are Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo and Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly, both of them believed to have already entered conversations to join the Magpies as soon as possible.

Touching on potential transfer target, Waugh highlighted Newcastle’s “interest” in signing a goalkeeper ahead of next season with Pope as the lone playable keeper and Martin Dubravka “likely to leave” the club, same as Loris Karius.

Waugh points out Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale is Newcastle’s top-of-the-order target to bolster the position. According to the reporter, Newcastle is expected to make an approach to Arsenal for Ramsdale in the new future.

On top of that, and contrary to popular belief, Waugh reported that Newcastle is “prioritizing” reinforcements in defense, as well as the right-wing and striker positions.

Howe isn’t quite interested in signing a defensive midfielder unless Bruno departs (which is not set in stone as things stand), considering there are already seven midfielders to choose from, allowing the club to concentrate on strengthening other parts of the squad.

Waugh also thinks Newcastle will focus on signing younger players who might or might not be prominent in first-team matches next season. One interesting angle is the potential use of low-level European matches through the Conference League (assuming the lads qualify) to introduce those young arrivals in the first team allowing them to play competitive matches on a weekly basis early in the season and for as long as the Magpies stay in contention.

2024-05-22T09:14:17Z dg43tfdfdgfd