Just when Newcastle United believe they can relax and start planning incomings of their own, the phone seems to ring again.
Those at St James’ Park simply sigh, consider letting it go to voicemail, before hearing another offer for another one of their star players. It is the summer of nightmares for many, but very much the Magpies’ frustrating reality.
This time around, Eddie Howe hasn’t got Champions League football to offer, either. This also isn’t a fresh project with plenty of promise. This is a project which is threatening to reach a standstill.
The latest on the futures of Tonali and Guimaraes
There’s very rarely Batman without Robin, Tom without Jerry or Ant without Dec, and there may not be Bruno Guimaraes without Sandro Tonali at Newcastle next season.
The midfield pair have both been linked with summer departures and both are reportedly considering taking their leave at St James’ Park. Just how long Newcastle can hold out for is the big question.
They’ve already rejected two £75m offers from Tottenham Hotspur for Tonali, telling the Lilywhites that they’ll need to pay at least £100m for his signature
£42m signing on the cards: How Newcastle plan to replace Bruno Guimaraes
Newcastle are ready to sign a new centre-midfielder in the summer transfer market.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have also been told that Guimaraes is not for sale, only for fresh reports to indicate that he is seriously considering his Newcastle future.
Losing the two midfielders alongside Anthony Gordon is the worst-case scenario which could easily come true on Tyneside. It would leave Newcastle scrambling for talismen, hoping to finally get their own recruitment back on track.
Whilst the rest of St James’ Park begins to panic, however, another player should sense the ultimate opportunity to become Howe’s next star midfielder.
The biggest winner if Tonali and Guimaraes leave Newcastle
What if the answer isn’t in the transfer market at all? What if Newcastle have their next star midfielder within their own ranks in the form of Lewis Miley?
It wasn’t so long ago that they wrote Elliot Anderson off in a similar position, cashing in for PSR reasons. He’s now the most expensive British player of all time after joining Manchester City.
Miley is now in the exact same position with one key difference. Newcastle are not in a desperate PSR position and there is a clear pathway into Howe’s best side if Tonali and Guimaraes leave this summer. This time, their most promising academy graduate will not be departing the club.
|
PL stats |
Anderson 23/24 |
Miley 25/26 |
|---|---|---|
|
Minutes |
1,022 |
1,493 |
|
Goals |
0 |
1 |
|
Assists |
2 |
4 |
|
Duel success |
48.8% |
66.4% |
|
Recoveries |
60 |
69 |
Compared to Anderson in his final season at Newcastle, Miley is far more ready to play a key role under Howe. The 20-year-old played an extensive role last season and won 66% of his duels – more than Tonali and the same as Guimaraes.
He’s not a flashy name that will steal every headline, but he is a homegrown player who has the chance to do the very thing that Anderson was denied.
If Newcastle lose Tonali and Guimaraes, then selfishly, Miley would be happy for the future of his place in the team. He’s no mug either; throwing Miley in the deep end as a midfield starter could be the best thing that they do.
In the scenario that he swims stronger than ever against the rough Premier League tide, the Magpies will have the chance to splash much-needed cash elsewhere in their squad.
It would be the best-case scenario at a time when PIF must finally get their recruitment right and progress a rapidly stagnating project at St James’ Park. Whether they give in and sell more of their biggest stars remains the big question, however.
