Newcastle United's transfer policy of targeting young talent from across Europe can pay off spectacularly, or leave them back where they started, according to ex-Magpies star Chris Waddle.
New Signings and Pre-Season
United have signed three youngsters for Eddie Howe's squad so far this summer, with goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen joined by Ivory Coast winger Bazoumana Toure and Dutch midfielder Sean Steur. Eighteen-year-old Steur caught the eye after progressing through the ranks at Ajax, with Newcastle paying £23m for the hot prospect. He started in their first pre-season friendly against Darlington on Saturday, and is set to play a first-team role in the coming campaign.
Waddle's Verdict on Risk and Reward
Waddle admits signing players at such a young age has an element of risk involved, but the benefits if it pays off would be a huge boost for Newcastle. "I think you have to keep an eye out for players around the world who could be top footballers, whether you buy them at 16, 18 or 25," he told OLBG. "Newcastle have obviously seen something in Sean Steur to think he’s going to be a Premier League footballer. They're looking at potential, but we’ve seen a lot of teams buy players with great potential who never really go anywhere."
"With Newcastle, when you look at players aged 17, 18, or 19, you buy them and wonder who they are. Then two years down the road, they’re either in the first team, or they've been sent out on loan and it hasn't worked out. When you go down that avenue, sometimes it clicks and you get a bargain, you think you've got a great result. But on many occasions, the player isn't at the level you expected or the level required for the way you play and you have to let them go."
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