Newcastle United will look to inject some experience and know-how in the final 40 days of a recruitment drive that has already transformed Eddie Howe’s squad.
The i Paper understands that Newcastle are close to completing additional signings after agreeing a deal for Monaco’s Aladji Bamba.
The highly-rated midfielder is set to join for £30m, with the transfer potentially finalised before Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Gateshead.
A first-choice goalkeeper is a priority while full-backs and a right-sided forward are also on the agenda.
Not everyone will necessarily follow the age profile of the four summer signings so far, however.
“We believe we’re making some intelligent bets – but we know there needs to be a balance,” a source said.
Why Newcastle have signed Bamba
The 20-year-old midfielder arrives from Monaco for a £30m fee (Photo: Getty)Although he can play as a No 8, Bamba is being signed as the defensive-minded No 6 that Newcastle have coveted all summer to give Howe’s side a new dimension next season.
There is real satisfaction inside St James’ Park at the deal and how Newcastle managed to keep it under wraps until the player was on a private jet flying over Leeds en route to the club’s training ground.
Insiders have stressed the move is not related to Bruno Guimaraes’ future.
While not a like-for-like replacement, Bamba is viewed as a successor to Sandro Tonali in a squad overhaul that has seen Newcastle sign four players with an average age of 19.5.
Sources stress that both Bamba and Sean Steur, the Ajax midfielder they beat off competition to sign earlier this month, are “ready to go” and will be expected to rack up plenty of first-team minutes next season.
But at the same time, an element of patience may be required.
What happens next
The Magpies missed out on Aston Villa’s Johan Manzambi (Photo: Getty)There is a consistent message coming from the club that they still want another “three or four” in the remaining days of the transfer window and are working on a “multitude of deals”.
Despite frustration among some supporters over Newcastle’s summer business, the club appears to be sticking to a clear recruitment strategy.
As previously revealed by The i Paper, the Magpies have been working on four or five deals simultaneously from a broad list of targets.
Although moves for Victor Munoz and Johan Manzambi ended in disappointment after they joined Liverpool and Aston Villa respectively, Newcastle have been able to pivot quickly to alternative options.
Bamba is one of those and, according to sources, has been “on the radar from day one”.
He is regarded as a player with significant potential and is expected to join up with the squad in time for the club’s training camp in La Manga next month.
The latest on Guimaraes
Bruno Guimaraes has expressed his desire to leave St James’ Park (Photo: Getty)Doing business early was a priority for Newcastle, but there are still several key positions to strengthen.
They must also fend off interest in Guimaraes, who remains a target for Arsenal.
With Newcastle set to field a younger squad next season, the club see the 28-year-old captain as a key figure.
However, Guimaraes is unsettled and ideally wants the chance to move to the Emirates.
The Premier League champions have been informed Newcastle would seek a fee close to the one received for Tonali, but have yet to make a formal offer.
Newcastle’s next priority is a goalkeeper, but it won’t be James Trafford, who is now close to joining Leeds United.
As The i Paper reported on Tuesday that possibility was dialled down in recent weeks, with Newcastle claiming that the only contact came when Manchester City mentioned him during talks over Tonali’s future.
Potential exits
The Magpies are also open to departures, with Jacob Murphy and Joe Willock available.
Besiktas have been linked with Willock, although their interest is understood to be at an early stage.
With just a year of his contract left, the club would ideally like to move him on.
Another addition will help shift the narrative around Newcastle as they begin their pre-season schedule this weekend.
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Transfers: Newcastle’s asking price for Bruno Guimaraes – and the truth about Arsenal ‘talks’ Comment: Kevin Keegan, Sir Alex Ferguson and an iconic rant that changed Premier League historyWhile there is lots of work to do to bring them to the level required they have secured good prices for Anthony Gordon and Tonali, brokering a £92.5m fee with Tottenham Hotspur that “surpassed expectations” for the Italy midfielder.
That they have added four players, lowered the wage bill and added legs and energy is encouraging.
But signing those with so little experience is clearly a risk, which is why retaining Guimaraes and adding more seasoned pros in the last days of the transfer window feels critical.
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