The best value signing EVER? How Newcastle's bargain buys stunned PSG and Mbappe

Suraj Radia

• 5 Oct 2023 10:02 BST
• 4 min read

On a field littered with expensive, world-class talent such as Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, it was Newcastle’s value signings that inspired them to an emphatic victory over Paris Saint-Germain.

The Magpies thoroughly outclassed PSG on a memorable night at St James’ Park, with Mbappe silenced by hometown hero Dan Burn, while Miguel Almiron, Sean Longstaff and Fabian Schar also netting for Newcastle.

The combined outlay spent on all of Newcastle’s goalscorers was a modest €43 million – less than half of the €95m PSG spent on Randal Kolo Muani, who formed part of the French side’s lacklustre attack.

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While Newcastle’s recent success has certainly been partially down to the increased investment since their Saudi takeover in 2021, a large core of their squad were present in the Mike Ashley era and have simply discovered a new lease on life under Eddie Howe.

No player emphasises the Magpies turnaround more than Schar, who was signed by Rafa Benitez for €4m in 2018 after the Swiss international was relegated with Spanish outfit Deportivo.

Arriving as simply a cost-effective body at a time when Newcastle were counting pennies, Schar has been integral to the Magpies and his signing will go down as, pound for pound, one of the best transfers in recent history.

From ‘Championship quality’ to Champions League masterclass

Few could have predicted Schar’s turnaround under Howe considering he was virtually unused by previous manager Steve Bruce, who believed the 31-year-old could not play in a back four, with the defender making just 40 Premier League appearances in two seasons and only being considered ‘Championship quality’.

But Schar was immediately brought into the team upon Howe’s appointment, forming an impressive partnership with Jamaal Lascelles, who has featured in recent games after Sven Botman’s injury.

The Botman-Schar partnership was at the heart of the Premier League’s strongest defence last season, conceding just 33 times and keeping 14 clean sheets.

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But while Botman grabbed most the headlines, Schar quietly provided a consistent and experienced head in defence, as well as proving vital to Howe’s system due to his ability on the ball and ability to score from range.

Indeed, it was Schar’s long-range effort that rounded off a resounding victory against PSG, something of which has become a trademark for the ex-Basel man throughout his career on Tyneside.

With world-class technique and a destructive presence in one of the meanest defences in Europe which made Mbappe and company seem invisible, Schar has proven to be Champions League quality rather than Championship while also showing PSG the true definition of value in the market.

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