Newcastle’s new owners have been told to ‘learn from Manchester City’s mistakes’, as they begin plans for a new era at St James’ Park following the departure of Steve Bruce.
The Magpies, backed by their £305million Saudi takeover, can now start targeting new players and a new manager to lead the rebuild, with a host of huge names already linked with moves to Tyneside.
Steve Bruce was sacked by Newcastle on Wednesday – and they are already targeting a new manager and new signings
Paulo Fonseca is the man being heavily rumoured to replace Bruce – and the Portuguese boss could have a new striker when the transfer window opens in January.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Newcastle are interested in signing Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with the new owners keen to make the England international their new star frontman.
The 24-year-old, who is currently out injured with a broken toe, has scored 32 Premier League goals since the start of the 2019-20 season.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has turned into a top Premier League striker over the last few years
With Joelinton failing to impress since his big-money move from Hoffenheim, the Tyneside club appear to be looking for another striker to provide competition for No.9 Callum Wilson.
It’s claimed Newcastle will face competition to sign the Toffees hitman, however, with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United also linked with an interest.
But former Toon defender Jose Enrique has told talkSPORT Calvert-Lewin is exactly the type of player the club should be signing over the next couple of years, with the newly-minted club warned against signing big-name stars who are only looking for a pay day.
Jose Enrique would approve of the Calvert-Lewin signing
The Spaniard, who made 119 appearances over a four-year spell in a black and white shirt, wants the new owners to bring in young and hungry players who ‘want to play for Newcastle’.
“It’s not easy to say which players they could sign, that’s the reality,” he said, speaking to talkSPORT.com in association with BeMyBet.com.
“They know they have money so the clubs are going to say, ‘if you come for my player, you take him and pay’.
“It depends how much they want to spend but I hope they don’t make the same mistake as Manchester City did at the start and go for big names who were maybe 28, 29 and had already won everything and are just coming for the money.
“I hope they go for players between 21 and 25 years old – hungry, with lots of talent, who have hunger to grow as a player.
“You can go for an established player of 27 or 28 years old but one that has the personality that’s looking to put the club in another dimension.
“Don’t just bring in big names to make the fans happy. Bring the right player with the hunger and the players who want to run and play for Newcastle.”
talkSPORT pundit Trevor Sinclair agreed with the former Toon star, admitting former club Man City were guilty of signing the wrong players in the early days following their mega-money Abu Dhabi takeover – including Brazilian ace Robinho.
Robinho signed for Man City from Real Madrid on summer transfer deadline day in 2008, the same day the club’s Abu Dhabi takeover was confirmed. He left after two seasons.
Robinho signed for Man City from Real Madrid on summer transfer deadline day in 2008, the same day the club’s Abu Dhabi takeover was confirmed. He left after two seasons.
Sinclair played against a star-studded roster of Newcastle players during his Premier League career, including the likes of St James’ Park legend Alan Shearer and Les Ferdinand.
And he said the new owners should target players who they know will ‘run through brick walls’ for the club and aren’t just there for a pay cheque.
“The players I played against at Newcastle when they were really at it under Sir John Hall – Alan Shearer, Sir Les Ferdinand, Rob Lee, they would run through brick walls for that football club.
“Les would, I’d see him go up for headers he had no right to win, same with Shearer, and then you had other players coming through the academy like Lee Clark and Steve Watson.
Newcastle have been challenged to find their new Alan Shearer following the club’s Saudi takeover
“This is what Newcastle fans want to see. It’s alright having a massive cheque book, but if you bring in players who just want money… I think Manchester City made a few mistakes early doors with your Robinhos and players like that…
“If you’ve got a huge war chest and you start bringing in the wrong players who are not going to run through brick walls for Newcastle and the black and white stripes of that jersey, you could find yourself in a real situation come the end of the season.”
Source: TalkSport
