High profile Newcastle United have put their money where their mouth is this season after successfully splashing out a reported £73million throughout both transfer windows under new boss Steve McClaren, however the club have struggled to build any sort of momentum to climb the table with many fans now calling for the former England manager’s head.
The Magpies are sitting just inside the dreaded drop zone in 18th place, with an unhealthy 24 points from their 26 league games, level on points with Norwich who secured promotion from the Sky Bet Championship last season which gives them a good chance of getting out of trouble.
The club were last relegated from the Premier League back in the 2008/09 campaign when club legend Alan Shearer wasn’t able to keep his boyhood club up, before Chris Hughton led the club back to the promise land the following season.
Newcastle have had major transfer blunders over the last few seasons where they have had a tendency to bring in unexperienced and unproven footballers mainly from France who haven’t got the ability or work rate required when fighting relegation, and therefore It is essential that the club’s hierarchy start to look the bad apples to clear out and the players to bring in, to assist in a promotion push.
One of the biggest problems facing any newly relegated club’s is the major task of complying with strict FFP rules, where the club’s usually extortionate salary costs could land them in a transfer embargo, which would be the definition of a nightmare for any side trying to bounce back first time.
Would McClaren keep his job if the club suffered relegation? That is yet to be seen although he has managed in the second tier with Derby County and despite not securing promotion with The Rams the 54-year-old would be a sensible choice ahead of introducing a foreign manager with little knowledge of the second tier.
Therefore,Ihave identifiedTHREE players Newcastle United should sign if they suffer relegation this season..
Joe Lewis
6ft 5’ shot-stopper Joe Lewis is desperate for a permanent move away from South Wales after making just 1 league appearance for The Bluebirds in four years, during a Premier League draw with Hull City.
The 28-year-old has spent the current campaign out on loan with Fulham, making 9 appearances for the former Premier League club and spent last season out on loan with Blackpool who suffered relegation to League One.
Lewis joined Malky Mackay’s Cardiff City back in July 2012 on a free transfer but the fine form of Scottish goalkeeper David Marshall and the introduction of Simon Moore has pushed the 28-year-old down the pecking order and no longer has a future at the club.
Lewis was once tipped for greatness after being called up to the England squad by Fabio Capello but has disappeared from the picture almost as quickly as he appeared upon it and would snatch at the chance to join Newcastle after it is unlikely that Time Krul would want to stick around in the Championship.
Bruno Ecuele Manga
27-year-old Gabon international defender Bruno Manga is considered one of the best centre-back’s in the second tier of English football after winning the Bluebirds player of the season during his debut campaign.
Manga joined Cardiff City back in September 2014 for a reported £5milllion as a replacement for the departing club captain Mark Hudson who made the switch to Huddersfield Town.The tough tackling defender has struggled with injury problems in his second season in South Wales, resulting in the player only managing to 14 appearances for the club this season.
Manga has recently admitted that failure to secure promotion this term with Cardiff City might see him forced to look elsewhere to fulfil his Premier League dreams and therefore a move to prestigious Newcastle would defiantly turn his head.
Matt Phillips
Highly-rated wide-man Matt Phillips has had his fair share of admirers since joining QPR back in August 2014 for a reported £4million from Blackpool.
Premier League clubs, West Brom and Sunderland have been linked to the Scottish born midfielder since QPR suffered relegation although neither club’s managed to meet the Championship outfit’s valuation.
Phillips made 27 appearances for QPR during his debut Premier League campaign scoring 3 goals and has managed to double his tally in the current campaign scoring 6 goals in 32 appearances.
The midfielder is desperate to get back to the top-flight of English football and may feel that Newcastle United would stand a better chance at gaining promotion than his current club.