Transfer priorities Newcastle juggernaut must now target as United build on solid foundations

As one door closes another is about to open. We have just seen the end of the summer transfer window and now thoughts turn enthusiastically to the January Sales.

Football is a never ending round of possibilities and opportunities and after all Newcastle United are very much a work in progress. We could still do with a winger, a midfield dynamo, a left-back. Can you think of any more? I’m sure you can. Oh, and another striker. Definitely another striker.

United spent £30m on Bruno Guimaraes and £25m on Chris Wood in their first window followed by £35m on Sven Botman and £60m on Alexander Isak in their second visit to the market. That has set a trend which will no doubt be continued. While it is necessary to put in foundations – no building can last without them – the window dressing is what gets the blood stirring.

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That means spending. Always has done. For every local who cost nowt like Wor Jackie, Paul Gascoigne, and Chris Waddle there is the anticipation and excitement at the laying out of money for such as Alan Shearer, SuperMac, Wyn Davies, Mirandinha, David Ginola, Peter Beardsley, and Tino Asprilla.

United have a reputation forged down many years for being a buying club, for exciting fans by plunging into the transfer market.

Maybe Elliot Anderson is going to be another of those local heroes and I admire the way United have gone about recruiting top young talent for their age groups mending the atrocious neglect of the Ashley era but the first team also require more instant surgery if the upward trajectory is to be maintained.

The new regime has shown great persistence – patience if you like – in pursuing their targets. They were rebuffed for both Sven Botman and Alexander Isak for example but kept going back until a deal was eked out. Does that mean they could return in January for the likes of James Maddison? It was rumoured that he wanted to come and I for one would be delighted to welcome him. What a statement signing that would be!

Maddison is a maker and taker. Goals and assists. Two players rolled into one. Come to think of it should Maddison prove to be too difficult a deal to bring to a successful conclusion then perhaps Leicester could be persuaded to part with Youri Tielemans as a consolation!

A winger is just as necessary. United may have numbers – Miggy, Maxi, little Fraser, schoolboy fan Murphy – but is there enough quality? No way if you have ambitions to be a top seven club.

As for up front yes, money has been shelled out on Isak, but with Callum Wilson regularly in hibernation and Chris Wood way short of PL elitism there is a desperate thinness to the striking department which was amply displayed by the bench when United were striving to try and break down Bournemouth for a desperately needed victory.

In an ideal world that problem has to be addressed because where Newcastle are aiming for is elitist. Maybe that means another visit to Watford and Joao Pedro. If they have permanently fallen off the promotion pace then perhaps their resistance will be weakened and Pedro’s ambition strengthened should United feel he still fills requirements. Something has to be done as a matter of urgency even if United’s new owners have already spent a not inconsiderable £85m on two centre-forwards.

Of course no position is beyond improvement as the new regime has already proved. United possessed Martin Dubravka but still went for an England keeper Nick Pope, had just bought Dan Burn but in the very next transfer window plunged big time for another left sided central defender Sven Botman. So do not rest easy my hearties!

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A club on the march gives assurances to no man. You cannot paint over rotting wood of course. Put on a posh top coat and wear rags underneath. Consequently Newcastle’s owners a year into their takeover still have a mountain of work in their in-tray apart from continuing to rebuild the first-team squad.

The academy, both in structure and in personnel, had been left to decay and much work is required. And St James Park, one of England’s stand-out stadiums when rebuilt by Sir John Hall, is now a shell of its greatness. Everything naturally takes time. No one wants to advocate patience, they want deeds to be done immediately, but there has to be a pecking order.

While senior and junior training grounds have needed refurbishing along with SJP, the overhaul of the academy is already under way. Steve Harper is the overlord with a new array of coaches and an outlook that aims to sweep away the second class years. Young bucks are arriving in tandem with senior stars.

United are being reshaped and invigorated at every level and that is how steady progress can be sustained.

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