If a week is a long time in politics, then six weeks could be an eternity in football – and it is going to have to be if Eddie Howe is to be handed a Newcastle United first-team squad capable of challenging at the top end of the table.
Transfer Window Frustrations
While it is easy to focus on the negatives of the transfer window to date, those inside St James' Park remain confident of bringing at least three or four players to Tyneside before deadline day on September 1. However, those who wish to ridicule, and there appear to be plenty right now, point to the decisions of Victor Munoz and Johan Manzambi to move to Liverpool and Aston Villa respectively instead of Newcastle, plus the departures of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, and claim United's dreams are in tatters. Add in speculation over captain Bruno Guimaraes' future and it paints a sorry picture.
That is only half the story, of course, with United chiefs keen to highlight the signing of three exciting young players for the first-team squad in Dutch midfielder Sean Steur, winger Bazoumana Toure and back-up goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen. All three are expected to be stars of the future, but when guaranteed talent is replaced by potential, you cannot blame supporters for wanting more.
Behind-the-Scenes Activity
The wheels continue to turn behind the scenes, and it should not be overlooked that the deals for Steur and Toure were done quickly and without a huge amount of speculation beforehand. More will have to follow, with those who have not been on World Cup duty returning for pre-season training this week as the big kick-off looms into focus.
Newcastle's first Premier League game, against Liverpool on home turf on August 23, is now less than six weeks away, and it does not take an in-depth study of Howe's squad to see where reinforcements are needed. If the season started tomorrow – and let us presume everyone was fit and available – it is hard to argue the strongest XI is not weaker than at any time since that first season under PIF.
Current Squad Assessment
Jaouen may be a star of the future, but he was signed as a No 2, which means Nick Pope would start in goal as things stand. The back four remains strong, if unchanged, with Tino Livramento, Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman and Lewis Hall at least offering a solid base to build from. Fabian Schar and Dan Burn will also have plenty to say about who starts in the centre of defence.
A midfield shorn of Tonali will inevitably be weaker, and losing Bruno does not bear thinking about, particularly when you consider the other options available. Lewis Miley is another certified star of the future, but may well be asked to play a senior role this season, and while there is excitement over Steur, the former Ajax midfielder is still only 18. Only Jacob Ramsey could muster any argument to start ahead of Joelinton, but the Brazilian remains a key part of the engine room.
Attacking Concerns
Perhaps the biggest issues lie at the cutting edge, where an already misfiring front line is yet to be improved. Toure's arrival will compensate for Gordon's exit at least in terms of another body, but it seems a lot to expect the Ivory Coast star to replace Gordon in terms of goals and assists so early on in his career. Neither Jacob Murphy nor Anthony Elanga could hold down a first-team place last season and yet the pair remain the only right-wing options, but the biggest question mark remains over who will lead the line.
William Osula ended the season in possession of the shirt, and little has changed to suggest that will not continue. Nick Woltemade's World Cup was over before it began, although United will have been heartened by Yoane Wissa's two-goal contribution for DR Congo. Can it be the catalyst to kick-start his Newcastle career? Certainly things cannot go any worse than they did last season for the former Brentford man, but he has plenty to prove in pre-season.
Outlook
The Newcastle hierarchy will continue not to panic when it comes to incoming transfers, and it would be a major surprise if there are not several new faces before the season gets under way. But as the situation shows, the new arrivals cannot come soon enough to alleviate the growing sense of unease.
