Newcastle United had a quiet summer transfer window, so the club had to add a few fresh faces in the January transfer window. After another dull opening few weeks, the club managed to add a versatile player in Kenedy and a striker in Islam Slimani.
The fans would have liked another creative player considering the club doesn’t have an out and out number 10, but the addition of Slimani will help as he is more experienced than any of the current strikers at St James’ Park.
Rafa Benitez has a tough task of keeping the side in the Premier League but the two new signings will help if they can be integrated quickly into the starting XI. Let’s look at what they’ll bring to the team…
Ins
Kenedy
The biggest positive is the Brazilian can play in more than one position. Predominantly a left winger, Kenedy can be deployed in the left-back position but his attributes are better used in the attacking third than at the back.
The on-loan Chelsea attacker has pretty quick feet and can take on a defender and beat him owing to his pace and ability with the ball. Because he didn’t play that many games for Chelsea, fans never really got to see his crossing ability, something that could come to the fore at St James’ Park as Benitez has Slimani as the target man now.
Newcastle’s biggest threat on the left often came from Christian Atsu and Kenedy will definitely add more depth to the squad. He can pick a pass, so perhaps there is an option of playing him behind the striker if he can impress.
Islam Slimani
A player who will definitely add a few more goals to the team. With players like Kenedy, Atsu and Matt Ritchie playing on the wings – the last two being able crossers of the ball – Slimani could have the service to do what he does best.
The setup at Leicester was similar, counterattacking, but Jamie Vardy’s presence meant Slimani was never going to get the preference. Newcastle had someone similar to Slimani, Aleksandar Mitrovic. But the Serbian’s temperament was an issue. Dwight Gayle, on the other hand, is more of a player who can run in behind the defence, relying on his pace.
There will be games where Benitez can use two up front and the duo of Slimani and Gayle can complement each other well owing to their skillset.
Martin Dubravka
A bit of an unknown quantity considering he has been signed from Sparta Prague. The custodian is a Slovenian international, so perhaps he will add more competition to the first team squad.
Outs
The most high-profile departure was that of Aleksandar Mitrovic. The Serbian needs a bit of game time and a loan move to Fulham might help with that. Unless he improves his mentality, though, it’s unlikely we’ll see him play too many games in the Black and White shirt.
The fans will hope Rolando Aarons and Adam Armstrong have good loan spells at Hellas Verona and Blackburn. Freddie Woodman has been loaned out to Aberdeen and will be keen to impress in the Scottish league.
Could have been much better – 5/10
Considering the stinginess of their owner, loan deals was the best the Magpies could do. Benitez will be happy they at least added a couple of players and having kept them above the relegation zone in the last few weeks, the Spaniard will once again have to squeeze the resources to ensure they retain their top-flight status.
