Jeff Stelling questioned ‘who thought it was a good idea’ for key Newcastle United’s figures to be in Saudi Arabia during the last stretch of the transfer window, as he asked on Sky Sports News (29/01/22 at 2:15 pm).
Former striker, Clinton Morrison, thinks the Newcastle owners would have told the players and staff ‘you have to come here’ during their mini winter break.
Some Premier League clubs have opted to give their players time off, whilst others have gone on training camps during this two-week period without any top-flight action.
Given that Newcastle are now owned by a Saudi-led group, they opted to train on their home soil, with other teams going to places like Dubai for their warm-weather training.
But, with the transfer window edging towards its conclusion, Sky presenter, Stelling, didn’t understand why ‘the powers that be’ weren’t in England sorting out transfers.
“Who thought it was a good idea for the powers that be at Newcastle to be in Saudi two days before the transfer window?” asked Stelling.
Morrison responded: “I don’t know, maybe the owner said ‘you have to come out here. You have to come out here to Saudi Arabia’.
“There will be people here, if they wanted to get business done, then they will be able to get the business done.”
Well, whilst over in Jeddah, Newcastle have managed to secure the midfield talents of Lyon’s, Bruno Guimarães.
And Sky Sports also report that the Magpies have agreed on a fee with Brighton for their defender, Dan Burn.
So, it’s not like nothing is getting done and come deadline day itself, even more faces could be added to Eddie Howe’s squad.
But these last 24 or so hours could be crucial for Newcastle and their long-term goals as the richest club in world football because their survival is on the line.
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