Newcastle United transfer policy remains BUT now with pragmatic touch added | OneFootball

The Newcastle United transfer policy has become very clearly defined.

Apart from the initial relegation fighting transfer window of January 2022, ever since then Newcastle United haven’t paid a transfer fee for a single outfield player over the age of 25.

Indeed, apart from Harvey Barnes, no player over the age of 23 had seen a transfer fee paid by NUFC for an outfield player since January 2022.

Now in this summer window, Anthony Elanga has arrived aged 23, whilst Malick Thiaw has just turned 24 this month.

Now we have a 24 year old Jacob Ramsey arrival expected to be announced very soon.

The Newcastle United transfer policy very much in evidence still.

As with Nick Pope (and Odysseas Vlachodimos…) before him, when it comes to goalkeepers it is different, at the age of 27 Aaron Ramsdale doesn’t break that Newcastle United transfer policy, if you agree keepers are understandably seen as exceptions – able to play at a high level at a more advanced age than outfield players.

I can’t see that Newcastle United transfer policy completely changing, suddenly Eddie Howe and the club changing the general idea of buying younger players who can both progress on the pitch as well as in their valuation off it.

However, this pursuit of Yoane Wissa and his expected arrival in the near future, clearly indicates that when deemed necessary, a pragmatic touch/deviation to the accepted Newcastle United transfer policy will be taken by Eddie Howe and the Newcastle United owners, when certain positions desperately need strengthening AND the best/only option is to sign an older player.

Yoane Wissa looks a very credible target as Eddie Howe looks to add more goals and a striker who can play alongside Alexander Isak (or an Isak replacement…) or deputise for him. With 19 PL goals last season, Wissa scored the most goals of any striker who doesn’t take penalties.

I think it is a good balance, Eddie Howe and the club taking this approach.

You can totally understand that from a financial/PSR angle, targeting younger players is definitely the way to go. However, that doesn’t have to be absolutely rigid and the odd pragmatic exception such as Yoane Wissa will complement the main transfer business that United do.