Matthew Upson appeared to have been left baffled by Newcastle United opting to spend the cash on players who weren’t proven in the Premier League when delivering his verdict on the Magpies’ transfer business.
The BBC pundit, who is regularly seen on shows such as Football Focus, appeared on Sky Sports’ first episode of The Debate since the transfer window had shut, and described the Magpies transfer business as unusual.
Upson focus on the signing of Miguel Almiron from Atlanta United and claimed that while it could be a fabulous signing, it clearly was a bit of a gamble.
“For a club, I think is it Michael Owen who was the record signing? I think how long ago that was so for a club like Newcastle to spend it big, doesn’t happen very often,” said Upson on Sky Sports’ The Debate (Friday February 1st, 11:02).
“And when you go and spend it on a player from the MLS is quite unusual because it’s so unknown, as due to the position they’re in, you think money would be spent on more of a sure thing.
“I’m sure the lad is very talented I haven’t seen much of him, they well get a real talent in him and it could be a fabulous signing but it’s a bit of a gamble.”
OPINION
Upson seems really confused that with the Magpies potentially at the lower end of the Premier League, that they have avoided signing ‘sure things’ in the Premier League. However even players proven in England’s top-flight aren’t safe investments and every potential transfer deals has its own unique risks. While Upson does admit he hasn’t since much of Almiron, it seems odd that he is confused why the Magpies would look to the MLS to find a player to improve their squad. Yet when you consider how expensive players are in the Premier League, then it isn’t really any surprise that Rafa Benitez’s side had to look at other markets for potential new recruits? While the reported fee for Almiron is thought to be £21million (Source: The Guardian), given his goal scoring antics in 2018 and his age, if he had even tasted Premier League football, his price tag probably would have been double that. Therefore while it may be easy to argue that signing Almiron is a gamble, it’s one the Magpies simply had to take.