No need to panic about lack of transfer activity at NUFC just yet - here's why:
Newcastle United have been linked with a whole host of names so far this summer, but apart from activating the clause to sign Christian Atsu permanently, we are yet to see any new signings holding up the black and white shirt at St. James'. No need to panic, however.
Following relegation last summer Newcastle underwent a monumental rebuild, bringing in 12 new first team players. It is vital for us all to realise that the first of those twelve new additions last summer arrived at the end of June in the form of Matz Sels, suggesting that it is still very much early days in the current window.
https://twitter.com/ADMusgrove/status/874249792582557697
This is supported to by The Chronicle's Andrew Musgrove, who also points out that, in the summer of 2015, our first signing wasn't made until mid July in Gini Wijnaldum.
Of course Rafa Benitez and us, the eagerly anticipating fans, would like to get our business done early and make a statement of intent ahead of our Premier League return, but this time last summer Newcastle hadn't made a single signing - yet we went on to sign TWELVE in the 2 months that followed:
29 June - Matz Sels (£6.5m)
1st July - Matt Ritchie & Dwight Gayle (£12m & £10m)
8th July - Jesus Gamez (Free)
11th July - Isaac Hayden (£2.5m)
21st July - Grant Hanley (£5.5m)
3rd August - Ciaran Clark & Mo Diame (£5m & £4.5m)
24th August - DeAndre Yedlin (£5m)
28th August - Daryl Murphy & Achraf Lazaar (Both £3m)
31st August - Christian Atsu (Loan)
Rafa Benitez will be keen to hit the ground running when the season kicks off on the 12th/13th August at home to Spurs, so it's clear to see why he wants business done early to allow new signings to integrate and find their feet in the team.
Panic not, however. Despite 'missing out' on the likes of Ruben Semedo and Harry Maguire in recent weeks, Newcastle will have several irons in the fire.
It must be said that we will have to loosen our purse strings to compete in today's market of inflates fees, but it's still very much early days. Keep the faith - the signings will come.
