Newcastle United will not be signing Bryan Mbeumo this summer, as the Brentford winger has reportedly decided instead that he wants to join Manchester United, who finished 15th in the Premier League and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.
You have to say, the Red Devils’ ability to attract high-class players is very much intact, but Newcastle have some pull of their own, having finished the 2024/25 campaign as Carabao Cup winners, crossing the Champions League gateway too.
There’s also a desire to retain the biggest stars. The Athletic’s David Ornstein has confirmed the Magpies will keep hold of Alexander Isak, but Anthony Gordon’s future is more uncertain.
In light of Liverpool’s resurfaced interest, Newcastle appear keen on bagging themselves a new left-sided forward.
Newcastle eyeing Mbeumo alternative
The Mbeumo situation is certainly a puzzling one. The Toon can offer Champions League football and a place in the forward line next to man of the moment, Isak.
However, the Cameroon international wants something else, and that’s fair enough. So, where will Newcastle turn to next?
As per Football Transfers, Newcastle have joined Tottenham and Aston Villa in the race for Manchester City’s Jack Grealish, who is expected to leave Pep Guardiola’s side this summer.
Spurs appear to have the lead, having opened communications with the Three Lions star’s representatives, but Newcastle may feel they can offer the 29-year-old an agreeable salary.
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City would be willing to cash in for a fee of around £43m, a fee far lower than the £100m it took to prise him away from Villa Park.
Why Newcastle should sign Jack Grealish
Last summer, Liverpool came knocking for Gordon when it became clear that Newcastle were fretting over compliance with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability regulations.
Newcastle found alternative ways to swerve the financial bother, but fresh reports suggest that Liverpool are interested in signing the £80m-rated England star once again, with Luis Diaz being targeted by the Saudi Pro League.
Selling him and bringing in Grealish could be a shrewd move, but there’s potential for both players to operate together at the same time, especially as City’s man plays a bit like his fellow countryman, and thus could slot right into the St. James’ Park system.
FBref record the pair as similar players, with Grealish ranking among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and progressive carries, the top 13% for progressive passes and the top 8% for shot-creating actions per 90. Gordon-esque indeed.
A carry is considered progressive if the ball is moved towards the opponent’s goal at least 10 yards from its starting point or is carried into the penalty area.
His technical crispness and fleet feet certainly offer some semblance to that of Gordon, whose assertive and electric style of play has led him to declare himself “a nightmare for anyone I play against.”
Grealish has fallen from grace, somewhat, at the Etihad Stadium, only starting 17 Premier League games across the past two terms. That £100m figure paid to Aston Villa looks rather steep in hindsight, to be sure.
But there’s no denying he was incredible in his final season at Villa Park, his boyhood club, hailed as a “magician” by Premier League icon Ashley Cole. Certainly, he outperformed Gordon’s 2023/24 campaign, when the Toon talent was crowned Player of the Year after leading Howe’s troops through injury purgatory.
Matches (starts)
26 (24)
35 (34)
Goals
6
11
Assists
10
10
Shots (on target)*
1.9 (0.7)
2.3 (0.9)
Big chances missed
4
9
Pass completion
83%
82%
Big chances created
14
16
Key passes*
3.2
1.6
Dribbles*
2.5
1.5
Tackles + interceptions*
1.7
1.8
Total duels (won)*
8.9 (61%)
5.3 (49%)
If Newcastle can eke out the same degree of quality from Grealish on Tyneside next season, they could have an incredible new weapon on their hands.
And given Howe’s masterful coaching, he’s got a great chance at achieving just that.
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