OPINION
Claims emerged on Wednesday to suggest that Newcastle United have not tabled a bid for any player yet this summer as the club continue to disappoint in the transfer market.
As reported by the Chronicle, the club are yet to make any offers in the ongoing transfer window despite the fact that pre-season training begins in 19 days time.
It is said that manager Rafa Benitez produced a long list of potential signings for the club to work on, but they have yet to make any progress on any of those deals.
Issues over finances seem to remain, with owner Mike Ashley keen to keep costs as low as possible, and that is likely contributing to the club’s malaise in the market so far.
However, the Magpies look to be in line for a timely boost this week, with the Mirror reporting that defender Chancel Mbemba has agreed a four-year deal with Porto.
The newspaper claim that Newcastle are in line for a fee of £8million for the centre-back, who is surplus to requirements at St. James’ Park.
This is a massive bonus for the club, with the Magpies having reportedly been in discussions with Anderlecht over a deal for Mbemba which would have seen them receive significantly less than the £8million reported here.
Aside from lowering their wage bill, the club must use this boost as the catalyst for their summer spending, with an £8million windfall surely to allow Benitez some leeway in the market.
While £8million will obviously not buy a big player outright, the club should be able to use such an amount towards a deal, while also being able to offer bigger wages to any incoming.
If this deal does go through and the club remain in a state of malaise, then the signs are truly worrying for the Toon Army as we head into the business end of the transfer window.
This deal must be a catalyst, or things are set to get much worse for Newcastle as the summer ploughs on.
