A lot of fans are going to be disappointed with summer Newcastle United squad strengthening | OneFootball

When I’m reading and listening to opinions on how this Newcastle United squad needs strengthening, both in terms of where and how many positions need buying for, I think a lot of Newcastle United fans are going to be disappointed with the upcoming summer transfer window.

A defensive midfielder? A centre forward? A left back? A right winger? A back up goalkeeper?

How about another centre back, now that Sven Botman AND Jamaal Lascelles are injured long-term?

That’s six players / positions I have heard bandied about that we “must” go into the transfer market for. It’s just not going to happen, both in terms of logic and budget.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I usually find myself agreeing with the majority of fans, but some need to weigh up where we are at MOST need of recruiting for improvement because in terms of budget alone, we are not going to be able to sign players of sufficient quality to cover all fan expectations.

For example, the usual whipping boys of Miggy Almiron and Jacob Murphy continue to cause a problem for some people. A problem which I simply don’t see. At least not as glaring as other areas of concern. Improve on them by all means but this is not the time. If Anthony Gordon can play out there with Harvey Barnes on the left then great but that doesn’t advocate the sale of Miggy or Murphy.

Another player that usually courts criticism is that of Sean Longstaff. Are we really advocating signing another central midfielder? Is this on top of signing a much needed defensive midfielder?

I’ve heard honest and sensible claims about selling the perennially injured Callum Wilson and buying TWO strikers. Now we’re approaching ten new players here.

For what it’s worth, I feel that out of the positions most talked about, a centre forward, centre back and left back are MOST needed along with a second choice (and young) goalkeeper being sourced. I’m personally in favour of James Trafford from Burnley. One for the future, not going to bust the budget and it’s this sort of creativity in the market that will be required.

Lloyd Kelly at Bournemouth seems to attract interest and his link with Eddie Howe could prove invaluable. Add in the fact that he’s a free agent and plays centre back and this ticks a lot of boxes.

I’ll add that if we were to finally lose patience with Callum Wilson and lord knows I have, then another striker will be needed. Dipping into the Championship for a young, hungry future prospect may be on the club’s mind as well.

We’re going to have to be creative this summer and, with Lewis Hall already confirmed as signed up properly after his loan deal, we’ve got a bit of work to do to get more bodies in, as Hall is a player that we technically or otherwise, already had at our disposal.

Low numbers coming in would leave a lot of people disappointed and I hear the arguments. I accept them all as valid and well intentioned opinions, but like I’ve said, signing half a dozen or more players is not possible. Priority will have to take over.

And with that, some players in this Newcastle United squad that are never flavour of the month with fans and/or whose form dips over the course of a season, will have to be retained and persisted with next season.

This season has taught us very harshly that it’s a squad game but we can’t surely have such rotten luck next season.

Getting to the bottom of the medical / fitness situation should be job one. After that, I’d reckon four players coming in will be somewhere about right. That may not satisfy some folk but we can’t simply go out and sign a whole new team.