Newcastle close to signing Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey | OneFootball

Newcastle United are closing in on a £40 million deal to sign Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey (h/t journalist Fabrizio Romano).

The Magpies have been struggling to get deals over the line this summer transfer window, but they are now picking up the pace.

After completing the signing of Malick Thiaw yesterday, a deal for Ramsey is now imminent.

He is on course to become the fourth Newcastle signing of the summer after Thiaw, Aaron Ramsdale and Anthony Elanga.

Ramsey will fill in for Newcastle midfielder Joe Willock, who has been struggling with injury setbacks for some time.

The England youth international can also deputise on the left wing. Former Villa manager Steven Gerrard declared that Ramsey ‘will be a terrific player’.

Ramsey reportedly rejected West Ham United and wants the move to Tyneside.

Newcastle’s Ramsey move fails to address creativity gap

Paying £40m for Ramsey feels like a sideways step rather than a genuine upgrade for Newcastle.

While the 24-year-old offers energy, pressing and versatility, Newcastle already possess midfielders in that mould.

The Magpies lack a creative heartbeat who can unlock packed defences.

Howe’s transfer focus again appears tilted towards tireless engines over inventive playmakers, a pattern that risks making Newcastle predictable in possession.

Ramsey’s ball-carrying is useful, but his vision and final pass don’t address the creativity deficit in Newcastle’s squad.

If the Magpies genuinely want to evolve into a Champions League regular, they need more than willing runners.

Links to playmakers like Lucas Paqueta and Bilal El Khannouss were encouraging, and Newcastle need to revisit a transfer move for one of them.