The delay in Newcastle United signing Hoffenheim attacker Joelinton is likely due to the club wanting to incorporate him into the reveal of their new third kit, according to journalist Ronan Murphy.
The Goal reporter revealed the news on his personal Twitter account on Friday, replying to his own tweet from Thursday where he claimed the signing would be done within 24 hours.
Now, he has cleared up the reason for the long wait: “Still no sign of an official announcement on Newcastle. Hearing that a possible reason for the delay is to help launch the new away kit.
“Like how West Ham revealed [Sebastien] Haller earlier this week.”
Still no sign of an official announcement on Newcastle. Hearing that a possible reason for the delay is to help launch the new away kit. Like how West Ham revealed Haller earlier this week. #NUFC #TSG
— Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) July 19, 2019
OPINION
Ah yes, social media’s vice grip over football in 2019 continues to tighten. As you will likely recall, West Ham announced the club record signing of striker Sebastien Haller earlier this week by incorporating him into the reveal of their new third kit, featuring plenty of hugely cringey dancing from the likes of Declan Rice and Angelo Ogbonna. Haller popped up at the end of the video, which is how the Hammers announced his signing. Now Newcastle appear to have a similar idea in mind with Joelinton. How well these sorts of social media shenanigans will go down with a Magpies fanbase enraged at the club remains to be seen, but you can bet it will be less than effusive. It still sounds as if the Joelinton signing is a done deal, just that supporters will have to wait to see him in a Newcastle shirt until the third kit is ready to be revealed. It’s strange that that’s the case, but that’s football in the modern day for you.
