Newcastle have been busy in the transfer market this summer but not everything has gone their way to date.
Eddie Howe has been keen to reshape his side this summer which has seen plenty of changes at the club during the first month of the transfer window.
Newcastle’s lack of depth in their squad was realised last season amid one of the worst injury crises the club has seen, which has seen an influx of transfer activity already take place.
The Magpies struggled with the rigours of Champions League football, as Newcastle endured 32 separate injuries last term – the most in the Premier League. The injuries sustained by Howe’s side left Newcastle narrowly missing out on a place in Europe, finishing the season in seventh place.
Paul Mitchell’s arrival as the club’s new Sporting Director is expected to ramp their transfer activity up even further in the coming weeks.
However, Mitchell’s arrival came too late to prevent Brighton from signing Amario Cozier-Duberry, who had been linked with a move to St. James’ Park for most of the year so far.
Amario Cozier-Duberry joins Brighton despite links to Newcastle
Despite three new arrivals on Tyneside and the permanent signing of Lewis Hall following his successful loan spell last season, Cozier-Duberry is now a player who Newcastle have missed out on.
The former Arsenal academy star completed his move to Brighton over the weekend, where he will link up with with former Newcastle star Yankuba Minteh, who also made the move down to the south coast.
The Seagulls, like all Premier League sides, are keen on improving their team ahead of the new season, and the addition of Cozier-Duberry is seen as a real coup.
The former Arsenal youngster was labelled as ‘very exciting’ and likened to Bukayo Saka by Jack Wilshere in the Daily Mail.
Newcastle intent on improving their academy
Newcastle have been busy with first-team arrivals and those who will be a part of the club’s academy sides. The Magpies have already signed Aaron Epia from Everton and CJ Afumuzor from Portsmouth for their under-18 side this summer.
More youth talent is expected to arrive at St James’ Park, with Newcastle keen to profit on and off the pitch by improving their academy. Howe’s side earned over £30m from the sale of Minteh, who did not kick a ball for the Magpies.
With Newcastle keen to prevent a repeat of June’s hectic rush to comply with the Premier League’s financial rules, selling academy stars for big money is a way they can do that, and follow the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City, who benefit greatly from their respective academies.
