Newcastle United Make Large Transfer Investments to Remain in Premier League

A great change has been reported in Newcastle United after the excessive January transfer business in the Premier League. However, the club started their game against Everton on February 2nd in the 18th place in the league, after being reported as the highest spending club over the window transfer window.

Newcastle paid a total of £12 million for the transfers of midfielders Jonjo Shelvey and Andros Townsend from Swansea City and Tottenham Hotspur, respectively. The Premier League No.18 club also made a £21-million offer for Saido Berahino. These steps have undoubtedly suggested a change in the club’s transfer policy.

Only twelve months earlier, the managing director of the Premier League club Lee Charnley commented that the winter transfer window was not favourable for doing business. He said that January is quite difficult market to operate in and hinted of Newcastle United’s preference to sign new players in the summer.

This, however, was a year ago. At that time, Newcastle occupied a place in the middles of the Premier League table, but now needs a wise investment that could buoy it to the surface. The club has lost positions under the interim coach John Carver, who required a 2-0 win over West Ham in order for his side to avoid relegation.

The truth is that the notable investments have been relatively slow to deliver so far over the current campaign. However, they all show the club’s desire to keep and protect their share of their £100-million TV revenue. The latter would be granted to every club in the Premier League from the beginning of the 2016/2017 campaign.

Since 2010, when Graham Carr took over the position of chief scout in the team, Newcastle preferred to pick up players from French Ligue 1. The club have been using the extensive contacts of Carr as well as his knowledge of the French football market. The proof is that a total of eleven Newcastle Players are either French, or have been part of French league clubs.

Newcastle United’s slide has not even managed by the former England coach McClaren, who failed in ceasing the club’s stumble and fall depite the £73 million spent on signings by the club’s owner Mike Ashley since the summer of 2015. However, an important step has been made under McClaren – expanding the scouting horizons of Graham Carr beyond the French transfer market, especially considering the signings of Townsend and Selvey, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Chancel Mbemba and Georginio Wijnaldum.

The January signings of the club are considered by some as a bit risky. As of Shelvey’s talented play, there is no doubt, but some questions over his temperament contribute to the risk Newcastle could take by signing him. Still, it is yet to be seen if the new additions to the squad will turn out to be as the right choice for the Premier League club to help it buoy at the surface once again.