Alan Shearer has given a brutally honest verdict on Newcastle United’s transfer window and what the club must do before the deadline expires on Friday.
The Magpies have strengthened their squad this summer, but the PSR-claimed departures of Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh mean it could be argued that their current squad is weaker than the one they entered the summer window with. Their summer signing will add depth to Eddie Howe’s squad, but the first team has not been bolstered with Lloyd Kelly the only one to see any action in his first two Premier League games.
Despite Champions League prize money and new sponsorship from Adidas boosting their coffers, the Magpies still have plenty to spend in the market and now have just days to strengthen before the window slams shut. Interest in Marco Guehi has yet to lead to an agreement with Crystal Palace over a potential move, while the right-back is also one of their priorities this summer.
Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, Shearer felt that the coming week is an important time for Newcastle United’s two managers and that it would be a “really bad” end to a period if they fail to strengthen Howe’s squad before the window closes.
Shearer said: “Darren Eales and Paul Mitchell, sporting director and chief executive, have to do something this week. They can’t go into September without bringing a big signing to Newcastle.”
Asked by Gary Lineker who they need to sign, he then replied: “They need to bring in Marco Guehi. They need a signing statement.
“It would be really embarrassing, especially for the two who are running the football club now, to go into September without bringing in a big striker or a big statement signing, I think it would look very, very bad.”
Newcastle United started their season with a win and a draw and face a tough away game at Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night. This match could mark Sandro Tonali’s return to action after his ten-month ban.