Newcastle United expected to target players ‘of the calibre of’ Conor Gallagher — report

The trouble with a mid-season takeover is that you have to wait until the end of the season before you can truly start splashing the cash in the transfer market. And that’s true even when your new owners are practically a sovereign nation, one of the richest in the world.

And in the case of Newcastle United, there’s also the small matter of ensuring before anything else that they can avoid relegation this season, after a winless start that’s seen them earn just three points from their first seven Premier League matches. While current manager Steve Bruce is not expected to be in charge by next weekend when football resumes after the international break, the Magpies won’t be able to add to their squad until at least January, regardless of how much cash is burning holes in their pockets now.

Once January (and then especially June) roll around however, Newcastle could be in for some video game-style football management, with financial fair play rules reportedly allowing them £190m in transfer spending in the winter market alone.

As to whom they might be targeting, that’s all speculative right now, though Burnley defender James Tarkowski is apparently at the top of their list and could be the first new arrival in a few months, according to the Telegraph. Not exactly a signing to create a seismic shift in the balance of power, but even the Abramovich Era started with an 18-year-old Glen Johnson walking through the doors in 2003.

Newcastle’s new owners certainly have the ambition to create said seismic shift, but it’s likely to be a multi-year process. To that effect, they are expected to be targeting players “of the calibre of” Chelsea loanee Conor Gallagher and Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans, at least according to the Daily Mail. While the Mail’s story has been picked up by others as Newcastle being interested in Gallagher, the original claim is purely speculative — even if Gallagher would surely be a smart signing for Newcastle, just as he would be a smart addition to our first-team next season.

Hopefully it’s the latter possibility that comes true eventually!