The three quality Newcastle United signings Eddie Howe needs | OneFootball

Six weeks today Newcastle United kick off their Premier League campaign against newly promoted Southampton. A game at St James’ Park we should expect to win and get the ball rolling nice and early, as we aim to get back into Europe, even maybe challenge for something bigger.

The biggest immediate topic amongst football fans, while we await next season, is no doubt the transfer window.

So far Newcastle United has seen Lloyd Kelly arrive on a free transfer and Lewis Hall loan spell change into a permanent deal.

Eddie Howe has also signed two experienced backup goalkeepers John Ruddy and Odysseas Vlachodimos ( a name admittedly I had to write down before I entered it here).

The goalkeepers are purely for backup, so I don’t have an issue with them, as for me Ruddy replaces Karius and I expect our new Greek international signing to replace Martin Dubrakva in the squad, as it seems the writing is on the wall for the Slovakian keeper. I’ll wish him well as overall, since Rafa Benitez brought him to the club he has done a good job for us, but the time has come for pastures new.

Newcastle United fans have seen two promising talents leave.

Elliot Anderson, a player I was genuinely sorry to see go.

Yankuba Minteh, a player who never featured or even trained for the club, a Newcastle player only in name, yet his departure along with Elliot Anderson caused a very lengthy debate on The Mag comments section.

It’s all opinions at the end of the day but I found it quite laughable when one or two suggested it was no different from when Mike Ashley was here and that we are a selling club still.

A ridiculous comparison considering star players like Yohan Cabaye, Gini Wijnaldum, Moussa Sissoko, Andy Carroll, Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton, Shay Given, Ayoze Perez all sold over the years and not adequately replaced.

At the end of the day, Newcastle United under the new owners has spent over £400m on players in under three years, so something simply had to give.

I did not want to see Elliot Anderson or Yankuba Mnteh sold. However, the money offered on both players, considering neither scored a senior goal for the club plus Elliot Anderson himself only played around 1600 minutes for the club, a £61m profit on the pair is a crazy amount and it’s REAL money. I have no doubt it will be reinvested and used to strengthen the team.

It is not the same as the previous regime.

The way some went on about Yankuba Minteh I found baffling. The kid had a great season over in the Netherlands, but it was his first and only season at a respectable level of football. I read some say he could be worth £70m or so in a few years. Who knows, he may be, there’s no telling. I found the story a bit like the Deal or no deal on TV, where people have a box at the start of the show that could be worth anything from a penny up to the big jackpot prize. That right now is exactly what Yankuba Minteh is in my eyes. We will see him at Brighton next season and then we shall see how he goes.

I have read recent media claims that Newcastle United could have a budget of £100m this summer, plus any money from potential sales. I’m sure the newly appointed Sporting Director Paul Mitchell (pictured below) is already talking with Eddie Howe, assessing everything, and will go about in due course, bringing in players of the type Eddie Howe has asked for.

I don’t expect a lot of incoming signings and I’m fine with that as I feel the squad overall is still in pretty good shape and with no European football to contend with next season, having 25 players compared to maybe 30 will do fine for us. In any case, I’d rather we bought quality than just quantity.

I think we’ve done our shopping in the goalkeeping department. I think the left side of defence is sorted and we will go with the likes of Dan Burn, Lloyd Kelly, Lewis Hall, young Alex Murphy, while we await on Sven Botman’s return.

The right side of defence I think we are a bit light where centre-backs are concerned as we only have Fabian Schar (as Jamaal Lascelles will likely miss half a season) who naturally plays at right centre-back, as Emil Krafth is really a right back rather than a centre-back. So I think we will buy one defender there. We have enough right-backs, plus even winger Jacob Murphy can play there.

Central midfield I think we can just about manage. Some would love another central midfielder but with no European football I’m not quite sure how we would make room for a new central midfielder to play along with what we’ve already got. I don’t see any signings unless another is sold in that department.

On the wings, I think we are covered on the left side. We have Gordon, Barnes, both Joelinton and Joe Willock, as well as Alexander Isak, all capable of playing there.

On the right, I think we’ve seen a healthy debate on The Mag comments section. Some think we don’t need another. I think Anthony Gordon can play there but I don’t he’d be as productive there over a season and I’m not a believer in trying to squeeze players in because someone may be too good not to start. It’s a team game and the team has to come first. The natural right-wingers we have are Jacob Murphy and Miguel Almiron. Miguel Almiron has repeatedly been linked with a move away and should he leave we are down to three wingers in total, so I think we would buy a new right winger.

Up front, we have the sensational Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson as backup. In a perfect world where both stay fit and don’t get many injuries, I would be content to stick with them without signing another striker, but you can almost guarantee Callum Wilson in particular will get injured at some point, whether he plays or not.

So I would like Newcastle United to sign at least three quality additions. At right centre-back, in the striking department, and a right winger, should Miguel Almiron leave.

I’m sure Paul Mitchell will do us proud and look after Eddie Howe and his coaching staff.