Anthony Martial to Newcastle United?
I think I will pass.
TEAMtalk has reported that the former Manchester United forward has been offered to Newcastle, among others I hasten to add. But the more interesting question might not be whether Newcastle should sign Anthony Martial, as let’s be honest, that is highly unlikely. It is whether they should sign anybody.
The transfer window has closed after a summer of enormous change at St James’ Park, but that does not mean Newcastle are completely unable to
strengthen before January. Players who are out of contract remain available, and the Martial story is a useful reminder that there is still a market out there.
Perhaps Newcastle should be looking at it.
There is certainly no need for panic after the opening three games. Five points, six goals and an unbeaten start is perfectly respectable considering everything that happened over the summer.
There are, however, already signs that the squad could still use a little more depth.
The attacking numbers are one obvious example.
Newcastle have scored six goals from only eight shots on target across their opening three league games. That is wonderfully clinical, but it is difficult to imagine it continuing at anything like that rate.
The concern is not really the number of goals Newcastle have scored. It is whether they are creating enough good opportunities to keep scoring regularly once that finishing inevitably cools off.
Another player capable of offering something different in attacking areas would therefore be useful, particularly in games where Newcastle are seeing plenty of the ball but struggling to turn possession into chances.
There are other areas where the squad still looks a little light too.
Full back is perhaps the most obvious.
Newcastle have enough options when everyone is fit, but it would not take many injuries before players were being moved out of position or the manager was forced to lean heavily on younger players.
That does not necessarily mean another major signing is required.
It might simply mean another body.
And that is where the free agent market becomes interesting.
Newcastle do not need to find somebody who will be a central part of the team for the next three years. Much of the summer recruitment was about bringing in younger players who can develop with the club.
This would be about something much simpler.
Getting to January.
If there is an experienced player available who can cover more than one position, who is fit enough to contribute quickly and who is prepared to accept a short contract without expecting to start every week, there seems little harm in exploring it.
Of course, there are reasons players remain without clubs in September.
Fitness can be an issue. Wage demands can be unrealistic. Some players may simply not suit what Matthias Jaissle wants from his team.
Newcastle should certainly not start signing famous names simply because supporters remember how good they were five years ago.
That would be exactly my concern with Martial.
But his availability raises a perfectly sensible idea.
The summer window was about rebuilding Newcastle for the future.
The next four months are about making sure Jaissle has enough options to get through the present.
If there is a sensible short term addition available who can provide another attacking option, some extra defensive cover or simply give the manager one more useful choice from the bench, Newcastle should at least be making the phone calls.
Anthony Martial might not be the answer.
But perhaps his name has raised the right question.
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