Inside Newcastle's transfer turmoil and the EIGHT players Eddie Howe's missed out on

Daily Mirror

2 hours ago

Newcastle United have gone in for a number of targets as they look to kick on from last season but have been turned down time and time again in a frustrating summer
To say Newcastle United have endured a frustrating summer would be an understatement. Qualifying for the Champions League will often make it easier for a team to convince transfer targets to sign, but that's been far from true for Eddie Howe's side.
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Anthony Elanga and Aaron Ramsdale have moved to St James' Park, but plenty of other players have opted to move elsewhere. Not only that, but last season's top scorer Alexander Isak could yet move on before the window shuts.
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"Why can't Newcastle get business done?" former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer asked when speaking to Betfair. "I don't know whether it's to do with the fact they don't have a Chief Executive or Sporting Director. They've known for months now that the Chief Executive was leaving so I'm pretty surprised that one hasn't been announced as yet.
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"The Sporting Director left a couple of months ago now and they've known that, so that's a big surprise that those spaces haven't been filled. Whether that has anything to do with Newcastle's lack of business and the number of players that have said no to them, I don't know. It's not a good look."
There is still time for the club to make up for lost time, but a lot of targets have already chosen to continue their careers elsewhere. Here, Mirror Football takes a closer look at who said no to the Magpies.
Dean Huijsen
We'll begin at the very start of the window. Spanish centre-back Huijsen enjoyed a breakout season with Bournemouth, prompting Newcastle and a number of their Premier League rivals to explore a move.
Unfortunately for them, Real Madrid were also keen. And that meant this was going to be a short saga with an obvious conclusion for a player with an eye on Spain's World Cup squad next summer.
" It's the best day of my life. For me, it's a dream to be here, and I'm going to give everything for the team," the young defender said at his unveiling. "With regard to offers from other teams, for me, Real Madrid is the best club in the world, and there is no other team like it."
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Liam Delap
A new striker was always going to be high on Newcastle's list regardless of what happens with Isak. The club lost Callum Wilson after five years, with the experienced striker later joining West Ham, and a younger model was pursued.
Liam Delap was one of those contenders after an impressive season with relegated Ipswich. A £30million release clause meant Newcastle were always going to have rivals for his signature, and Chelsea won the race.
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"I understand the stature of this club and can see the trajectory it is on with these players and the head coach," the England Under-21 star said. "It's going to be an incredible place for me to develop, and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies."
Joao Pedro
Here, as with Delap the promise of Champions League football wasn't enough. Chelsea could offer the same, along with Club World Cup football, and the Brazilian chose the Blues.
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"Everyone knows this is a big club with a great history,' the former Brighton star said. "They had brilliant players in the past and have brilliant players now. So I am excited to join and you know when you are a Chelsea player you must think one thing — win."
Newcastle might be back in the Champions League, but some may feel other members of last season's top five are in better shape all around. Time will tell if they're right.
Mohammed Kudus
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Newcastle completed a move for Elanga in mid-July, but only after failing to land Kudus. The Ghana international had looked set for a move away from West Ham since the start of the summer, and chose Tottenham.
It's easy to see why the former Ajax man was an option, given his ability to play across the front line. Once again, though, it soon became clear Howe's team were up against it from the very start.
"The most important part of why I came here is the project and how the manager sees I can develop under him," Kudus said upon joining Thomas Frank's side. "Where he's come from and seeing the amount of talent he's developed to become great players, it's a big sign of why I wanted to work under him as well."
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Bryan Mbeumo
Versatile forwards were clearly the order of the day this summer, and you can hardly accuse Newcastle of not being focused. The issue for them is failing to convince so many of those targets that St James' Park is the place for them.
Mbeumo was also eyed by Spurs and Manchester United when it became clear he might be leaving Brentford. The Cameroon star's former team-mate Yoane Wissa could yet end the window as a Newcastle player, but Mbeumo himself has moved to Old Trafford - saying that was always part of the plan.
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'From the start, I wanted to join this massive club,' he said. 'Now I'm here, I'm just really happy. For me, it's the biggest club in the world. The fans are crazy, the stadium is amazing, and every player wants to play here.'
Hugo Ekitike
When it first looked as though Isak might join Liverpool, Newcastle stepped up their interest in French frontman Ekitike. Now, though, we could end the summer with Ekitike and Isak at Anfield.
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The former PSG frontman struggled to get a look in with Les Parisiens but thrived last term at Eintracht Frankfurt. Newcastle were ready to break the bank, but in the end it was Liverpool who won the race for the £69m star.
'I've been dreaming to come and play in the Premier League. And to play for Liverpool is a big, big good feeling for me," Ekitike said after joining the champions. "I just can't wait to start to play games and to win trophies."
James Trafford
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The summer began with some uncertainty over Newcastle's starting keeper after Martin Dubravka and Nick Pope shared duties last term. Trafford long looked destined for a move to the North East, but there was a problem.
The 22-year-old Cumbrian was fresh off promotion to the top flight with Burnley, but felt he had unfinished business at former club Manchester City. As soon as City activated a buy-back clause, there was only one possible outcome.
'I always dreamed that one day I would be able to come back to Manchester City," Trafford said upon his return. 'This is the place I call home – it's a truly special football club with fantastic people who make it such a unique place to work and play."
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Benjamin Sesko
If you thought the impending start of the season might bring an end to Newcastle's transfer disappointment, it's time to guess again. Sesko became a realistic target once Arsenal turned to Viktor Gyokeres, but there was still another potential suitor.
This time, once again, Manchester United stand in the Magpies' way. Ruben Amorim's side might not be able to offer European football, but that doesn't seem to matter.
Both clubs have bid enough to tempt RB Leipzig to cash in on the Slovenian star - somewhere in the region of £70m - but we're expecting Sesko to announce sooner rather than later that Old Trafford is his preference.
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