Micah Richards has claimed that Newcastle United’s January purchase of Chris Wood was ‘very shrewd’, as he told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport.
The former right-back thinks Newcastle conducted ‘really good business’ during the recently-concluded window.
Wood was the only striker that the Magpies signed up and it was a move that sparked a big debate.
The newly-rich club signed him from their relegation rivals, Burnley, and it was a signing that got a bit more spotlight than the others.
But given that Burnley lost such a key figure at the top end of the pitch, it remains to be seen how much effect it has on them.
Although, they did replace the New Zealand international with Wolfsburg’s Wout Weghorst.
Nonetheless, Richards praised Eddie Howe for the players he brought in last month, as they now aim to survive.
“I think Newcastle have done really good business,” said Richards. “Kieran Trippier was the catalyst, coming from Spanish champions Atletico Madrid. It always takes that one player to take the plunge.
“Chris Wood was a very shrewd move. Taking a player off of someone who will be fighting relegation as well.
“To stay in the league, and have a base to build on, I think it’s been good for Newcastle.”
At the end of the day, you can form whatever opinion on Newcastle’s transfer business, but it all boils down to them staying up.
If they do that, then it’s a huge success and they can really motor forward towards their long-term goals.
Given the Wood signing, it just had to be written in the stars that on the last day of the season, Newcastle travel down to Burnley.
If both teams, or either team, still needs points to survive, then it’s going to be one of the most nerve-racking games for those supporters.
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