Fabrizio Romano gives major update on player Newcastle United 'tried and tried' to sign ahead of summer battle
Newcastle United are yet to make a signing during the January transfer window despite a number of players being linked with a move to Tyneside.
There are just under two weeks remaining in the January transfer window and Newcastle United are yet to add to their squad.
As it stands, the only permanent deals conducted by the Magpies is the departures of Under-21s duo Cathal Heffernan and Ben Parkinson to Harrogate Town and Falkirk respectively. Joe White and Harrison Ashby have joined League One promotion contenders Bradford City on loan for the remainder of the season and Antonito Cordero has been sent on loan to Cadiz until the end of the campaign after struggling to make an impact during a similar spell with Belgian club Westerlo.
Speculation over possible incomings continues and one name that continues to crop up is Dutch midfielder Kees Smit. The 20-year-old has rapidly risen to prominence in the Eredivisie after scoring five goals and providing seven assists in 61 appearances for AZ Alkmaar and his impact has reportedly captured the attention of several of European football’s biggest clubs.
Newcastle have been named amongst them on a routine basis in recent months and Magpies sporting director Ross Wilson looks to compete for some of the brightest prospects around European and world football. However, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has delivered an update on Newcastle’s pursuit of Smit by claiming the Magpies ‘tried and tried and tried again’ to secure a deal for the Netherlands Under-21 international and stated a ‘big battle’ lies ahead during the January transfer window as Real Madrid and top clubs in the Premier League enter the race for the midfielder.
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Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said: “My understanding is that, again in January, the intention is not to move the player. So, a move in January is really unlikely, despite Newcastle trying because Newcastle tried and tried and tried again for Kees Smit. My understanding is that now the deal is really unlikely. But, in the summer, the big battle is ready because Real Madrid are following the boy, Premier League, top, top clubs are following the boy. So, it’s going to be a battle really for Kees Smit.”
What has Eddie Howe said about the January transfer window?
Speaking earlier this month, the Magpies boss said: “Regarding transfers, everyone at the club is fully supportive. The problem for us is PSR, which we’ve said many times. I don’t think there’s an issue with anyone saying we can’t do this or that, it’s what we can do and can’t do. “The key thing for us to consider is business now and business in the summer, value for money now and value for money in the summer and signing the right player. If you sign the wrong player, you’re carrying that for a three, four, five year contract. Are the right players available in January?”
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