Newcastle United are currently finding themselves at a crossroads, as the Magpies balance a superb start to life back in the Premier League with the off-field distractions of a takeover- with Mike Ashley putting the club up for sale this week.
That news has led to a renewed sense of optimism around St. James’ Park, which should encourage the team to push forward in the crucial games that lie ahead in the coming weeks- as Rafael Benitez’ side tackle Crystal Palace, Burnley and Bournemouth.
With 11 points to their name so far, Newcastle are certainly on course to meet their pre-season objective of achieving 40 points and avoiding an immediate return to the Championship but there’s still a lot of work to do- and January’s transfer window will be crucial.
Benitez was left frustrated in the summer by the lack of funds being made available to him, which led to some speculation that he could leave the club, and keeping the Spaniard happy will be the priority for any new board that comes in.
Should a deal be completed by the New Year, with Ashley stating his intention is to complete a sale before Christmas, then Newcastle need to put their money where their mouth is and win the race for highly-rated midfielder William Carvalho.
The Portuguese international was heavily linked with West Ham in the summer, and has previously been mentioned as a target for Arsenal, but interest from Newcastle’s two Premier League rivals seems to have been reduced dramatically.
That’s certainly positive news for Newcastle in the race to land the 25-year-old’s signature, although they do still face an immense challenge in luring Carvalho to the Premier League; as reports from Italy state Juventus are keen and The Sun cites alternative reports stating the midfielder will be offered a new contract by Sporting.
The lure of the Premier League may be too good to turn down though and Carvalho would certainly slip straight into Newcastle’s current team, providing competition for Mikel Merino and Isaac Hayden, whilst potentially leading to a switch in formation.
Newcastle need a capable squad to remain competitive in the Premier League and the one criticism so far is that they seem to lack that, with the likes of Florian Lejeune, Dwight Gayle and Jonjo Shelvey struggling to find consistency when they’re handed first-team opportunities.
Carvalho would increase the ability of the first-team and would also significantly improve the depth available to Newcastle, whilst his age means that he can continue to develop into a highly-rated midfielder.
