Newcastle United transfer policy takes dramatic shift – A pragmatic approach now taken | OneFootball

A dramatic shift in the Newcastle United transfer policy.

That Newcastle United transfer policy had become very clearly defined.

Apart from the initial relegation fighting transfer window of January 2022, ever since then Newcastle United hadn’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.

In this summer window, Nick Woltemade and Anthony Elanga brought in at the age 23, whilst Malick Thiaw and Jacob Ramsey aged 24.

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, the eventually successful pursuit of Yoane Wissa, 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 an excellent signing.

Signed at the age of 28, then turning 29 on Wednesday gone, Wissa celebrating his move to Tyneside with a goal and an assist for DR Congo in their World Cup group qualifier this past weekend.

Eddie Howe looking to add strikers and goals to his squad.

Nick Woltemade towards the start of his development at the top level, complemented by a Yoane Wissa in his prime.

What’s not to like?

With 19 PL goals last season, Wissa scored the most goals of any Premier League 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 as a general rule.