For the record, if you go back I did actually agree with you on this one. Also, and importantly, having players we've tried to sign go on to do well really shows how good our scouting was doing their job. We've had far more hits than misses.
He looks a top player now and I actually still think Newcastle will have an interest, but I suspect he'll end up at Arsenal or maybe Liverpool.
I think the "issue" is that we don't just want to buy on playing talent alone. Howe has made it clear he wants people coming in with the right character and whilst you may watch his for a season in Italy and see he's good enough for the Premier League that doesn't mean he'll be able to actually perform to that level. I think that's much harder to Scout when players are elsewhere and involves a certain amount of guesswork/luck. Some teams roll the dice, we don't it seems - we'd prefer to spend more on them once we've had a chance to find out what they're actually like. There's pros and cons. It's more expensive so slows progress but is more assured of success.
We've won a trophy before the lower end of the 5 to 10 years that was prescribed to win the Premier League. This is the start of the sportswash good and proper from now on, starting this summer. With news of a 200 million training ground and a 1. 5 billion stadium project coming before. We're basically now onboarding the starship enterprise I think ladies and gentlemen.
Recent interviews with PIF figures would second this. In response to the cup win they have said it will be the first of many and that they haven't been targetting quick wins for NUFC, but rather are strategically planning for 'sustained domination'.
After the way they behaved over Lingaard, they can have Longstaff on a 5 year loan at £25m per season.
Gonna be a lot of **** talked about Isak between now and the end of the summer window. Already bored of it tbh. Just concentrate on the next 10 games - think he can bag another 10 goals and get close to 30 goals this season in the league. If he does we have a very good chance of making CL next year and then I don't see a reason for him to go unless it is Madrid tbh - and even then I don't think they'll shell out £120m+ for him that he's worth.
The top and bottom of this is that they'll all want him and eventually if Newcastle aren't right up there he'll want to leave for a club that is. Summer 2026 is probably going to be the one if Newcastle don't make the champions league because he'll have 2 years on his contract. If he signs a new contract this summer it'll shut the media up for while though, so fingers crossed.
