Newcastle United are yet to make any significant acquisition in the transfer market. Time is ticking away for the newly promoted side and it seems Rafa Benitez’s project to make the Magpies an improved brand in the English football is lagging way behind. After winning the Championship title last season, expectations have soared but they have done very little to fortify their position thereafter.
The Magpies have just made one signing in Christian Atsu which has frustrated manager Benitez. It has been reported that the Toon are considering options to launch an offer for Manchester City keeper Joe Hart. The Three Lions no. 1 has been seeking a return to the Premier League for long and the Newcastle boss is ready to revive his career by handing him the reins in between the sticks.
Pep Guardiola’s demand of a ball-playing sweeper keeper saw Hart moving to Torino and the arrival of Claudio Bravo from Barcelona. But Pep surely had felt the absence of Hart as both Bravo and Willy Caballero endured a very tough season.
Newcastle have two decent keepers with the likes of Karl Darlow and Rob Elliot but Benitez wants an upgrade in the upcoming season as he is aiming to clinch a place in the top half of the table. Despite doing pretty well in the English second tier last season, Benitez wants to bolster his side in almost all the areas.
After failing to entice a single player apart from Atsu who has been with the club as a loanee, Newcastle have reshuffled their staff as Steve Nickson has been handed the charge to lead the recruitment campaign and we could see some exciting players arriving at the St James Park this summer.
A number of clubs including West Ham United have voiced their desire to sign the 30-year-old but could find it hard to afford his wages. The City keeper is currently on a £110,000 a week wage and could be forced to lower his wage if he needs to take a suitable position in the starting lineup.
Hart spent the last season on Torino where he had some shoddy moments in between the sticks. But despite being caught off-guard, his popularity is still very high and Newcastle feel he is more than capable of doing the job for them.
Hart must have to find a club in a bid to secure his position in the England side. The shot-stopper is still the preferred choice for Gareth Southgate but a number of talented keepers are already in line to get into the set up so Hart should make a choice pretty quickly.
