What does the future hold for Newcastle United? The answer to that question is starting to feel cloudier by the day. Just look at the quality that has left the club in this summer transfer window.
In return, the Magpies have signed four youngsters and continue to be linked to more. That is a not a strategy that has gone down well with a large section of the fanbase though.
Within the space of a few years, it looks like the aim of the club has shifted from becoming one of the best teams in the Premier League to building a sustainable model.
The ceiling has suddenly gone from the next Manchester City to the new Brighton & Hove Albion or Bournemouth. And unfortunately, there could be more worrying news on the horizon.
Fabrizio Romano drops fresh Newcastle United transfer news
According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal are set for new club-to-club contacts next week for the Guimaraes deal. Personal terms are already in place and a new approach with Newcastle United is anticipated to proceed.
The £70 million proposal is also expected to be improved. The deal depends on Newcastle United’s decision on Guimares’ exit and transfer price.
Of course, Newcastle United would not want to see their captain leave in the same window as Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali. This will significantly weaken a team that could only finish 12th in the Premier League last season.
Then again, in modern football, it is almost impossible to keep a player around, if he does not want to stay. Guimaraes has agreed personal terms with Arsenal but it remains to be seen exactly how determined he is to leave. That could prove to be the deciding factor in any move.
Newcastle United’s replacement for Guimaraes has to be clear
At the end of the day, Newcastle United will need to find a replacement for Guimaraes if he does leave this summer. But there are not really many options out there capable of doing that.
So far in this window, the club’s complete focus has been on signing youngsters. Bazoumana Toure has been brought in as Gordon’s replacement. Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba have been signed following Tonali’s exit.
Those are highly-rated talents without a shadow of a doubt. That being said, they are not players who you can reasonably expect to come and produce at the Premier League level.
If Guimaraes does end up leaving, one would hope that he is replaced by experienced and proven players. Somebody on the verge of entering their prime who has already shown his ability at a high level, not a project signing which might or might not work.
