Newcastle United has already begun looking beyond its summer business as the club attempts to build a younger squad capable of remaining competitive over the long term.
The Magpies’ recruitment strategy is increasingly centered on developing players as well as creating a sustainable player-trading model, starting last summer.
According to The iPaper’s Mark Douglas, Newcastle has identified a young center-back and a right-sided forward as two priority positions for future transfer windows. Planning
has already started for January and beyond, although the report did not indicate that deals for specific players are currently advanced.
“The Magpies gathered all of their scouts in the north-East for a post-summer debrief and to set out future objectives,” Douglas reported. “The mood was described by sources as ‘very upbeat’ as Newcastle prepare to double down on the new project which has seen them focus on younger talent and developing a player trading model that will enable them to be – in the words of one insider – ‘competitive and challenging for major honours for years to come.’”
Newcastle is placing greater emphasis on younger players who can develop and potentially retain or increase their value for potential future sales, bringing profit to the club. The Magpies are also strengthening the recruitment operation behind that strategy, with Newcastle recently advertising for a lead data recruitment analyst who would help identify and evaluate potential targets.
The aforementioned priority targets would address longer-term questions within Matthias Jaissle’s squad.
Jacob Murphy is 31 and entering the final year of his contract, creating a need to plan beyond one of Newcastle’s longest-serving players. A younger right-sided attacker would also provide another option alongside currently injured Anthony Elanga.
A similar succession plan must be considered at center-back. Fabian Schar and captain Dan Burn are both in the later stages of their careers, while Schar’s contract is also due to expire at the end of the season. Newcastle already has younger central defenders Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman, and the next addition could be recruited with that longer-term core in mind.
Douglas’ report does not mean Newcastle will necessarily address both positions in January, but it provides an early indication of where the recruitment department is concentrating its work after the summer window.
Which should Newcastle prioritize first: a young center-back or another right-sided forward? Let us know how you would approach the next transfer window in the comments.
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