Newcastle are set to sign up to three new players this week, according to journalist and author Martin Hardy.
Hardy, who has written for the Independent and was the author of Rafa’s Way, claims that the Magpies are expected to welcome Hoffenheim striker Joelinton as part of a mid-week transfer blitz once Steve Bruce has met with the Tyneside club’s recruitment department.
“Newcastle United will look to reverse a difficult summer by launching perhaps the greatest spending spree in the club’s history,” Hardy said on the Off the Pitch website.
“By the middle of this week it is thought the club will have bought two or three new players, including the Brazilian Joelinton for a club record fee that could rise to £35million.
“The new manager, Steve Bruce, will return today from China to meet with the club’s recruitment department about the players they have targeted.
“He will retain the final say but is expected to be informed of players the club have scouted for a lengthy period.”
Newcastle are the only club in the Premier League that is yet to sign a new player.
Ayoze Perez, Salomon Rondon and Mohamed Diame are among the players who have left St James’ Park since the end of last season, leaving Bruce with a threadbare squad to build on before next season starts.
OPINION
Newcastle really need to press on with their transfer business this week. Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley took too long to sort out the management situation with it taking weeks for Rafa Benitez to leave St James’ Park and then a few more weeks before Bruce was hired as his replacement. That wasted valuable time in the transfer window as Bruce arrived amid a pre-season trip to China to take part in the Premier League Asia Trophy. Newcastle now appear to be back from the Far East and that has finally allowed them to become active in the transfer market – finally. Joelinton is a good young striker who did well in Germany last season, so he will fill a void up front left by Rondon’s exit at the end of last season when his loan deal expired. However Newcastle need new players in virtually every position except for in goals and at centre-back. Steve Nickson is set for a very busy couple of weeks before the transfer window closes.
