If Eddie Howe had remained Newcastle United manager, things would have played out one way. But since he did not, and Matthias Jaissle was brought in as his replacement, there were a lot of unexpected decisions that were taken that not many would have seen coming.
There were some players who did not seem to be part of Howe’s long-term plans going into this summer transfer window. But following Jaissle’s arrival, they are now right back in the mix at St James’ Park.
So much so that the club turned down significant bids for players who were on the periphery of the squad not too long ago, but now have a genuine chance of making an impact on the pitch and having a positive impact on the dressing room.
Two names that come to mind immediately are those of Joe Willock and Jacob Murphy. Both were expected to leave this summer but did not end up doing so. Jaissle played a clear part in that.
Newcastle United ready to offer extensions to both Murphy and Willock
According to the Daily Mail, talks over extensions for Murphy and Willock will take place after the duo stayed at St James’ Park beyond the summer transfer window.
The pair are now in the final year of their current deals but club chiefs will look at extending those terms by 12 months. Jaissle sees the value in both Willock and Murphy and communicated his wish for them to stay put.
As a result of that, Newcastle turned down a £15 million offer from Nottingham Forest for Murphy. Besiktas also explored a £17 million move for Willock.
Why keeping Murphy and Willock is a good idea for Newcastle
It would be safe to say that neither Murphy nor Willock were expected to be starters for Newcastle United coming into the 26/27 campaign.
But Willock has most certainly proven that he is capable of producing in that role since the arrival of Jaissle. He has scored a couple of important goals already, one against Liverpool and another against Millwall, which was the winner.
As for Murphy, his role has not been as prominent as that of Willock but he has still started a couple of times and featured in all five games so far.
It is not just what they bring on the pitch either. Willock and Murphy are proven players in senior football and can be a guiding light to so many of the youngsters who have been brought in this summer.
So, it is easy to see why Jaissle rates them so highly. And it is also good to see that the club have backed the manager by keeping them.
