Newcastle’s nightmare summer: Six players to turn down a transfer | OneFootball

Newcastle United are enduring a nightmare summer in the transfer market. The Magpies squeezed into the Champions League places last season, sparking optimism of a summer of progress.

It has instead turned into a turbulent period, with a failure to land top targets and key figures pushing for an exit. Leading scorer Alexander Isak is currently training away from the main group as he looks to engineer a move away, but Newcastle’s failure to find a replacement has complicated matters further.

Benjamin Sesko looks set to be the latest name to snub Tyneside, with the Slovenian reportedly favouring Manchester United. Newcastle have submitted a club-record bid but look likely to endure more disappointment.

We’ve examined the transfer targets who have turned down Newcastle this summer.

Newcastle’s nightmare summer: Six players to turn down a transfer

Dean Huijsen

Dean Huijsen was one of the first major movers of the summer, as clubs scrambled to sign the Spanish centre-back.

A £50m release clause set off a fierce race for the Bournemouth defender, with Newcastle one of five Premier League clubs to hold talks with the player’s representatives. However, the lure of Real Madrid proved too strong as Huijsen snubbed English interest to move to the Bernabeu.

Liam Delap

Another player whose release clause started a scrap for his services. Delap enjoyed a breakthrough Premier League campaign last season, scoring 12 times in the league despite Ipswich’s relegation.

A £30m release clause looked good value, and Newcastle were one of several sides who informed of their intent to meet that fee. However, Delap decided on Chelsea, reuniting with former Manchester City youth coach Enzo Maresca in West London.

Bryan Mbeumo

Newcastle joined Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United in pursuing Mbeumo, as the Magpies looked to sign a right-winger. Mbeumo scored 20 goals and added seven assists during a brilliant campaign at Brentford, but made up his mind early on his future.

The Cameroon international gave priority to Manchester United, eventually moving to Old Trafford in a £71m deal. Newcastle instead move for Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga, who moved to St James’ Park for a £55m fee.

Joao Pedro

For the second time, Newcastle saw a deal for João Pedro fall through. The Magpies had been on the verge of signing Pedro from Watford for £30m in 2022, with the transfer even getting the Fabrizio Romano ‘here we go’ treatment before collapsing.

Newcastle revisited a move for Pedro, now of Brighton, this summer, but again failed to seal the deal. The Brazil international joined former target Liam Delap at Chelsea.

James Trafford

Eddie Howe will be cursing his recruitment team for failing to land James Trafford. Newcastle appeared to have a free run at the Burnley goalkeeper, but stalled in agreeing on a fee and saw competition surface.

Manchester City arrived at the table last month and won the race for their former academy graduate. Newcastle turned to Aaron Ramsdale as an alternative.

Hugo Ekitike

In one of the sagas of the summer, Liverpool beat Newcastle to the signing of Hugo Ekitike. Newcastle had submitted a €70m offer for the Eintracht Frankfurt forward, but Liverpool’s approach proved persuasive.

The Reds signed Newcastle’s top transfer target, and still remain insistent on a deal for current Newcastle forward Alexander Isak in a potential double-blow to Eddie Howe’s rebuild.

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