The last time Newcastle United went to Molineux, in October 2021, the lifeless defeat they absorbed in the dying days of the Steve Bruce and Mike Ashley era felt like a new low.
Days later, the Premier League ratified the Saudi Arabian-fuelled takeover, Pandora’s box was prised open and professional football in England (and on Tyneside) changed forever.
Some 10 months on, Newcastle now regrettably play in a kit that bears more than a passing resemblance to the Saudi national colours but have the look of a club undeniably on the up.
Judging by social media, the controversy surrounding the association with a repressive regime is not going away – but neither are a team who remain unbeaten despite playing without their two best players, new record signing or any of the panache that was the hallmark of their intoxicating 3-3 draw with Manchester City.
This felt more sobering – a reset of reality for Eddie Howe’s side. Wolves are going through a transition of their own but carried more threat and purpose for long periods, especially in the first half.
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No-one at St James’ Park is kidding themselves. A fortnight ago when Newcastle rode their luck as they escaped with a point from Brighton, a senior source at the club admitted “we aren’t there yet – by a long way”.
They have pushed the parameters of financial fair play to bring in Alexander Isak – the £59million deal negotiated last week has come with structured payments – and will again try to juggle the here and now with keeping their powder dry for future transfer windows this week.
i understands the club remain in the market for a midfielder and a dream pre-deadline day scenario would see another versatile forward arrive. That’s unlikely but a loan move for someone who can stoke the fires in the midfield engine room is pretty essential if the club are to consolidate their hopes of challenging for Europe.
Connor Gallagher is a player they like – his red card for Chelsea at the weekend hardly dimming their desire – while Ajax’s Edson Alvarez is also on the wishlist. The latter might have become even more difficult to buy, though, with Antony checking out and heading for Manchester United over the weekend. No club wants to sell their two prize assets in the final week of the transfer window, regardless of how much TV cash is waved at them.
It will not be easy to broker transfers with teams reticent to release their best stars. One agent told i last week that doubling or quadrupling wage and fee offers might be the only way to change minds – and that jars with Newcastle’s “process-driven” approach.
One thing is for certain. They will disappoint half the Championship by keeping Elliot Anderson, who is also due to be rewarded with a new contract. His cameo was excellent at Molineux.
It’s difficult to shake the feeling that there’s a real opportunity for a club with good leadership to break from the pack in this strange two-seasons-in-one Premier League campaign. Those at the top are showing some signs of vulnerability – Newcastle head to Liverpool in midweek, though the Reds have bounced back from their poor start in style with Saturday’s 9-0 win against Bournemouth – and maybe one more push in the transfer market might confirm the Magpies as contenders.
There’s certainly enough enterprise and endeavour there to suggest, from a footballing perspective, this is a project starting to gain a bit of momentum. Just ditch the shirts.
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