Pulling the plaster off in one sharp motion is how those close to the situation have characterised Newcastle United’s call to cash in on Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon. In the calmer light of hindsight, the thinking behind it is easier to understand. At the time, though, there were moments during the summer when the club looked as if it was taking one painful hit after another.
June 17 offered an early glimpse of the chaos. Newcastle’s club doctor, Paul Catterson, had travelled to the United States to oversee the medical for Spain World Cup winger Victor Munoz. Then came the flurry of messages. “F***ing Liverpool.” The Merseyside club had stepped in and snatched the deal away.
It was a heavy blow, and by July 13 Newcastle were feeling every bruise. Members of the recruitment team had shuttled between North America and Switzerland after identifying midfielder Johan Manzambi, one of the World Cup’s breakout performers, as a major target. The club had even laid out a detailed plan for how he would fit into their future.
With both pursuits unfolding in full public view, Newcastle knew they needed to move more quietly. Sporting director Ross Wilson headed to Germany in an effort to seal a deal for Hoffenheim winger Bazoumana Toure, managing to slip in and out without attracting attention.
That discretion almost lasted. Wilson’s return flight from Frankfurt to Newcastle was diverted to Paris, where a supporter recognised him in a departure lounge at Charles de Gaulle airport. The fan pressed him on whether Newcastle were signing someone from France. For Wilson, the accidental cover story was convenient enough — a rare lighter moment in a turbulent June transfer window.
Newcastle United sporting director Ross Wilson (left) and chief executive David Hopkinson endured a hectic summer, though the club can take satisfaction from how its transfer business ultimately unfolded
Amar Dedic, the £30million Benfica right back, was already being monitored by Newcastle before new manager Matthias Jaissle encouraged the club to step up their pursuit
Behind the scenes, Guimaraes had already asked leading agents to explore a move away from Newcastle. The club had been aware of his intentions for weeks, but the wider football world only learned of the situation when Daily Mail Sport revealed on June 25 that talks with Arsenal had taken place.
The night before, Eddie Howe sat in the Miami Stadium and watched his captain play for Brazil. The desire was to keep him, but Guimaraes had let it be known he was determined to go.
The narrative was set – Newcastle were losing their best players and losing their replacements. Then, on the eve of pre-season, they lost Howe. The head coach told Wilson he was standing down but agreed to stay on until his successor was found. Gordon had already joined Barcelona and Tonali was on his way to Tottenham.
Mess. Calamity. Car crash. Call it what you like – and we all did – this had the makings of a summer to rival the disaster of 12 months previous, the wreckage of which Newcastle were still clearing.
That unease outstayed the appointment of Matthias Jaissle and even the final pre-season friendly. New recruits Toure and Aladji Bamba – two 20-year-olds at a combined £72.5m – did not look ready to start in the Premier League.
There were holes in the squad and the XI. Jaissle referenced a ‘leadership void’. Privately and publicly, he made clear the need for signings.
The headlines were noted inside St James’ Park. Were Newcastle relegation candidates? The question was asked by outsiders and it was not unreasonable. Those on the inside kept their counsel and, crucially, their nerve.
Just over a fortnight later and here we are, with Newcastle in the conversation as transfer-window winners. It helps that Guimaraes started the season injured at Arsenal, and that Tonali, despite playing, has barely started the season at all at Spurs.
The desire was to keep Bruno Guimaraes but the Brazilian had let it be known he was determined to go, which added to the early window turmoil
The £50m midfielder Nico Gonzalez, who joined last week from Manchester City, was superb in the win at Tottenham
It helps far more that the players brought in have hit the ground running. And passing. And crossing. And creating.
Amar Dedic, a £30m right back from Benfica, was a player already on the radar but then pursued on the say-so of Jaissle, who worked with him at RB Salzburg. He arrived five days before the start of the season. With three assists from two games and a robust style that lends itself to attack and defence, the Bosnian will already have rival recruitment departments wondering how they missed him.
Alongside Dedic, £50m midfielder Nico Gonzalez, who joined last week, and £26m goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek were Newcastle’s best players during Saturday’s 2-0 win at Tottenham. Sean Steur, a cultured 18-year-old midfielder from Ajax, looks a steal at £20m. From the darkness of pre-season has come the light of the campaign proper.
There was, before Spurs, a draw against Liverpool from which Newcastle deserved more. There was also the announcement of a new £190m training-ground development. And then Jaissle, a manager who has exuded energy, intelligence and belief, not least in himself.
Wilson and senior staff knew that the optics had changed – getting Gonzalez out of Manchester City for half of the £100m they received for Tonali felt like a major coup – and so they pushed ahead with one last ambitious move, for a player they had previously thought unattainable.
On Friday morning of last week, Wilson and Hopkinson took the Eurostar to Lille. There, they agreed a deal to sign Matias Fernandez-Pardo for £51m. The framework had been in place for several days.
When Wilson was then pictured walking into the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday afternoon, supporters online questioned why he was not elsewhere making transfers happen. The answer was in his inside pocket – his passport, freshly stamped from the return journey.
Over the weekend, he and Hopkinson waited nervously for the Ligue 1 side to find a replacement and, just as importantly, for the likes of Liverpool – yes, ‘f****** Liverpool’ – to stay away from the winger. Some of those around the 21-year-old also needed to be persuaded that Tyneside was the best destination for the Belgium international. It all felt very precarious.
On Friday morning of last week, Wilson and Hopkinson took the Eurostar to Lille. There, they agreed a deal to sign Matias Fernandez-Pardo for £51m
Sean Steur, a cultured 18-year-old midfielder from Ajax, looks a steal at £20m
Hopkinson remained in London on Sunday, a strategic ploy keeping him closer to northern France than North East England. On Monday morning, amber turned to green. By tea-time, Fernandez-Pardo was on a flight to Newcastle.
His deadline-day signing took the total to eight, at a cost of around £270m, making a net spend of just £25m. The Squad Cost Ratio deficit that resulted in a UEFA fine last season has been addressed, while the removal of Nick Woltemade’s wage, coupled with a £3.5m loan fee from Juventus, has all but covered the SCR cost of Fernandez-Pardo’s transfer fee for the first season.
In short, by playing the long game this summer, Newcastle insist they have left themselves in a much stronger position financially. Hopkinson’s mid-summer declaration of Newcastle 2.0 – post Howe and those departing stars – felt suspiciously like Newcastle 1.5 going into the new season.
But now, with the window closed and the view no longer blurred, the picture is one of positivity and prosperity. They have ridden misfortune and some misadventure, and those two have, on occasion, collided to more fortunate consequence.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, 31, pulling out a move from Marseille and Joao Palhinha, also 31, preferring a return to Portugal from Bayern Munich were soon followed by encouragement that a deal for Gonzalez, 24, was possible. Newcastle had dropped a penny and found a pound.
Of all the holding midfielders they sought, insiders believe Gonzalez represents the best outcome. Brighton’s Carlos Baleba briefly became a possibility last month when agents said he was available for around £65m – Jaissle was said to like the player – and Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray were discussed in and around the sale of Tonali. Former Forest midfielder Danilo was offered and considered, but Newcastle wanted better.
The framework of a deal for AC Milan’s Christopher Nkunku, 28, was agreed with the Italian club two weeks ago. Jaissle was aware of him through the Red Bull network – Nkunku scored 70 goals for RB Leipzig over four seasons – but Leipzig is where the forward wanted to return.
Out wide, Cologne’s Said El Mala was admired and tracked, while Zadok Yohanna, a 19-year-old of AIK, chose Brighton over Newcastle.
A £15m offer from Nottingham Forest for Jacob Murphy was rejected this week on the insistence of new boss Jaissle
Goalkeeper James Trafford was the No 1 target coming into the window, but his insistence that his future was only decided after the World Cup caused frustration
In defence, they liked Forest full back Neco Williams but he was not for sale. Giorgio Scalvini, the Atalanta centre back, was always on the list, but Newcastle decided to trust their current quartet in that position.
Goalkeeper James Trafford was the No 1 target coming into the window, but his insistence that his future was only decided after the World Cup, despite being England’s third-choice keeper, caused frustration. After failed moves for Trafford the previous two summers, Newcastle pivoted to Hornicek, who also had interest from Manchester City.
As for outgoings, a £15m offer from Forest for Jacob Murphy was rejected this week on the insistence of Jaissle. He sees the winger’s value as a senior presence in a young dressing room and, despite the obvious SCR benefits of selling a 31-year-old in the final year of his contract, the manager got his way.
By this point, the club’s need to appease the balance sheet was far less than the need to appease their new boss on the back of his encouraging start.
The sticking plaster was ripped off for good reason. Supporters and observers spent much of the summer staring at the wound, but the bigger mistake was assuming it would never heal.
