Paul Merson graded Newcastle United’s transfer business this summer and awarded them a B+ for their efforts.
The Sky Sports pundit praised new recruit Kenedy as he claimed it was a “big deal” for the Magpies that they had managed to get him on loan once again as he was one of their best players last season.
Merson also shared that he wasn’t worried about the Magpies in the upcoming season and claimed that in his opinion they would be alright.
“I like Kenedy, I thought he did really well last year,” said Merson, as quoted by Sky Sports.
“I don’t mind Salomon Rondon, I know they let Dwight Gayle and Mitrovic go, but if they can get him going, he’s a handful.
“I don’t know much about a couple of the other players, but keeping Kenedy on loan is a big deal for them, he was one of their best players last season.
“People are worried about Newcastle, but I’m not worried about them, I think they’ll be alright.”
OPINION
It seems Merson is particularly impressed by Kenedy but even then it’s hard to see how he rates the Magpies’ transfer business so highly. With the summer window now shut there are several positions in Rafa Benitez’s squad that still look in need of strengthening. It seems the Spanish manager is once again going to have to make do with what he’s got and hope that he doesn’t lose too many players to injury in the first-half of the season. This is especially the case when it comes to Paul Dummett as the Magpies really needed to bring in another left-back to the club this summer. During the 2017/18 campaign the Magpies looked noticeably worse without Dummett in their team when he was ruled out for a significant period of time due to an injury. This looks like being the case once again if the 26-year-old suffers a set-back in his upcoming campaign as there doesn’t seem a player capable of being worthwhile cover for him.
