After a thoroughly dull start to the January transfer window, it was Newcastle who broke the ice by completing the signing of Papiss Cissé from Freiburg for a fee believed to be around £8m. Newcastle’s ascent this season has been extremely impressive and their willingness to step-up in the transfer market to try and solidify their solid start has been remarkably progressive. Whilst other teams struggle and back-tread, Newcastle are one of the few who have made genuine improvements.
It’s clear that Newcastle have come a long way in a year, especially considering that last summer they were resigned to losing their best player to another Premier League rival. Andy Carroll may no longer be at the club, but Alan Pardew’s Magpies have not looked back.
Now that we’re past the halfway mark of the season and the Toon are joint fifth, there’s a decent platform for the club to build on. Would Mike Ashley have given the go ahead to sign a new player if Newcastle were stuck in mid-table mediocrity? I doubt it.
Barring a poor run of form, Newcastle will finish higher than they have done for the past few seasons and in turn receive more than they are accustomed to in terms of Premier League revenue. Newcastle’s signing of Cissé may have set them back £8m, but this is money that will be paid back with interest at the close of the season and as the club looks forward towards greater success.
Cissé has scored 33 goals in 51 Bundesliga outings and at 26-years-old, could turn out to be another remarkably astute signing for Alan Pardew.
For all his PR disasters, Mike Ashley is an astute business man, who appears to have used his nous this January. Whilst clubs like Arsenal (who are competing with Newcastle) sit still, the Magpies look forward.
Newcastle also look set to keep hold of Ba, which was arguably their most important aim in this transfer window. Everything seems to be shaping up nicely for the Magpies and it would be churlish not to feel some degree of positivity about the direction this club is heading in.
It’s important that fans don’t get carried away and place unrealistic aims on this squad, but the fuure does look bright. If Newcastle can continue to build on their strong foundations without losing any key players, they will likely be a force to be reckoned with next season.
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