With Newcastle United trying quickly to sign a new centre-back before the August 30th transfer deadline, it’s undetermined how much money they’ll have to work with to enhance their attacking line. Journalist Keith Downie stated on Wednesday that the club would have limited money for a new right-sided attacker if they completed a deal for Marc Guehi, which may cost up to £65 million including add-ons. However, the surfacing of talks to recruit Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba could allow the club to have additional finances available, with the Burkina Faso international expected to cost the Magpies approximately £43 million
This could allow Eddie Howe to enter the transfer market to finally conclude their search for a new wideman, but as things stand, there is no apparent contender to come in and improve on the current choices. However, the club might revisit a previous transfer target to offer Howe with an upgrade on one of the players currently at St James’ Park.
After joining Tyneside in a £12 million deal from Norwich City in the summer of 2017, winger Jacob Murphy was expected to provide a ray of sunshine amid the Magpies’ dismal period on and off the pitch. He did not make an early impact, and was loaned out to Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom before returning to the first-team squad in 2020. He has since made 137 appearances for Newcastle in that four-year period, scoring three goals and assisting seven times in the Premier League last season, his greatest tenure in the black and white stripes.
Murphy has been a great squad member for Howe, giving a steady presence in the first team despite the club’s recent injury problems. However, with the club preparing for another push towards Champions League football, they may have to make tough decisions to give Howe the greatest chance to return the team to the heights it reached in 2022/23.
