- 22 hours ago
Rating Newcastle's winter transfers: Trippier, Guimaraes and Co.
Stuart Telford
- Updated: 10 Mar 2022 00:56 CST
- 4 min read
Mike Ashley sold Newcastle to a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund in October 2021 for a reported £300m.
In theory the Tyneside club could now make a viable bid for any player in world football, but they have had to be patient, with some potential recruits baulking at the prospect of a relegation dogfight.
Eddie Howe's side did manage to add to their ranks in the recent January transfer window, though.
We rate their winter arrivals.
Kieran Trippier - €16m from Atletico Madrid
An absolute snip for an England international full-back who has racked up 35 caps for his country despite sharing a footballing generation with Kyle Walker, Trent Alexander-Arnold and, latterly, Reece James. Throw in his set-piece ability and acquiring Trippier for €16m (£13.4m) looks to have been shrewd business indeed.
Trippier wasted little time in endearing himself to the Toon faithful, scoring free-kicks in Premier League victories over Everton and Aston Villa before a broken metatarsal sustained in the latter ruled him out, potentially until the end of the season.
Kieran Trippier, o̶v̶e̶r̶ through the wall! 🔥
⚫️⚪️ pic.twitter.com/trg2MsFYyo— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) February 13, 2022
Trippier revealed he may have scored the second of those goals with a broken foot - "I felt pain 10 minutes into the game under my foot, and I was thinking I must have been stamped on," he said. Imagine what he can do for the Magpies injury-free in 2022/23.
Matt Targett - LOAN from Aston Villa
Lining up on the opposite flank from Trippier, Targett was acquired on loan from Aston Villa at the end of the transfer window with the Birmingham club seeing Steven Gerrard arrive as manager, and then Lucas Digne from Everton as his left-back of choice.
Villa's loss has been Newcastle's gain so far, with Targett starting four of a possible five league games since his move - all of which have rendered positive points hauls. In the 92nd percentile for progressive passes league-wide, and 88th for blocks, at this rate Newcastle would be mad not to exercise his €18m option to buy in the summer.
Bruno Guimaraes €45m from Lyon
Newcastle spent €45m in prying Bruno Guimaraes away from Ligue 1 outfit Lyon, making him their most expensive acquisition of the winter window and their second-costliest player ever after Joelinton (€47m from Hoffenheim in 2019).
So far, the Brazilian has been restricted to appearances from the bench with Joe Willock, Jonjo Shelvey and former striker Joelinton dominating the three midfield positions in Howe's preferred 4-3-3, with the coach insisting he is "not a luxury player" as reported by the Evening Chronicle.
Those who watched Guimaraes at Lyon know that's an understatement - only Lionel Messi attempted more through balls in Ligue 1 this season (17 vs. 10) whilst Guimaraes won 44 tackles. An asset at both ends of the pitch, Newcastle fans have only had a glimmer of what he can bring to the team.
Dan Burn - €15m from Brighton
In a transfer climate where English centre-backs can fetch €95m in Harry Maguire's case, or €59m in Ben White's, picking up White's former Brighton teammate Dan Burn for €15m could prove to be a relative steal.
Granted, Burn is not capped internationally like the aforementioned Manchester United and Arsenal stoppers, but former United captain Gary Neville has already praised him impact, telling Sky Sports he "hadn't seen the Newcastle defence as organised as this for some time," after the Villa win.
Chris Wood - €30m from Burnley
Likely a position Newcastle will revisit in the summer, striker Chris Wood arrived from Burnley for €30m - which seems like a lot for the New Zealander, who turned 30 in December.
Wood is yet to open his account in seven outings with Newcastle, but his strength and hold up play do at least create spaces for the likes of Ryan Fraser and Allan Saint-Maximin to exploit, and his arrival also denied Burnley an attacking outlet.
That final point is thrown into sharper focus now, with Newcastle 14th and Burnley seven points back in 18th.
