Newcastle United are “preparing to take that next step” in their bid to challenge at the top end of the Premier League table.
That is according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, who was speaking to This is Futbol about the latest news at St James’ Park this summer.
Newcastle have only welcomed two fresh faces to Eddie Howe’s side so far this season, but both arrivals are likely to improve the team greatly in centre-back Sven Botman and ex-Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope, whilst former loanee Matt Targett made his move permanent from Aston Villa this summer.
However, the club have been linked with multiple big-money targets this summer, with Leicester City midfielder James Maddison and Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby being touted with potential moves to Tyneside this summer.
And O’Rourke believes that moves such as these show that Newcastle are preparing themselves to take the step up to the next level – though it may take time due to it being a long-term project.
He said: “It just shows that Newcastle are preparing to take that next step, trying to challenge at the top end of the table.
“I think it’s a project, and it will take time, but they are seemingly going in the right direction right now, Newcastle – going for these players that maybe a year or two years ago, you wouldn’t have thought that Newcastle would have any chance of signing.”
TIF Thoughts on O’Rourke’s comments…
We believe that fans of the Magpies will be delighted to hear the rumours linking the club to big-name players, but they will want to see the club actually managing to bring them through the door before they get too excited.
The club have had a second bid reportedly worth around £40m rejected for Maddison this summer, with the Foxes valuing the one-cap England international at a figure closer to £60m, suggesting Howe’s side still have a way to go to secure his signature.
Therefore, we think that whilst Newcastle fans have reason to be excited about the final few weeks of the window, but the fanbase will want to see more signings through the door by the time the window closes in September.