Back in January, Newcastle tried to sign the likes of Sven Botman and Diego Carlos, as they scoured Europe with millions to spend.
Eventually, the Magpies had to look a little closer to home after being frustrated in those pursuits, and signed Dan Burn in a £13m deal from Brighton.
The 29-year-old isn’t exactly as talented as Botman and Carlos, but as a boyhood Newcastle fan, he has shone for his beloved Magpies.
Now, Tim Sherwood has questioned why Brighton let him go.
What’s the story?
Well, speaking to Jell Stelling on Soccer Saturday, the 53-year-old said: “They made a strange decision letting Dan Burn go, in my opinion. I know the kid had done brilliantly for them and they’ve let him go back home to Newcastle, but they’ve had injury problems in that position and I think they’ve suffered.”
Well said. £13m is a good deal for Burn, but in the context of the situation, we’re not sure what Brighton were thinking.
As Sherwood states, the Seagulls are light on defensive options at the moment, so it was madness to weaken themselves further.
Of course, Graham Potter risked having an unhappy Burn at the Amex Stadium, as he was clearly desperate to join the side he supports.
However, Potter and those in the boardroom at Brighton have to put the club above anything else, and it was careless to sanction his departure.
Dan Burn a blessing in disguise for Newcastle
As aforesaid, Burn is no Botman or Carlos, and Newcastle know that, having tried to sign them before going for the Englishman.
However, the towering defender has helped Newcastle win four of the seven games he’s featured in since swapping Brighton for Tyneside.
Additionally, as a Geordie himself, he has connected well with the Toon Army, which has surely helped him perform as well as he has.
Burn wasn’t Newcastle’s first choice by any means, but his arrival has proven to be a blessing in disguise for Eddie Howe.
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