‘No’ – Alan Shearer turns down Newcastle United role after expressing transfer concern
Alan Shearer admits Newcastle United’s boardroom departures and lack of transfer activity has left him feeling concerned.
Paul Mitchell officially left his role as sporting director this week having failed to secure a major signing during his year at the football club.
During this summer alone, Newcastle have encountered several knock backs. Presentations were made to representatives of Liam Delap, Mathias Cunha, Joao Pedro and Dean Huijsen, with all deciding, for various reasons, that Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid were more favoured destinations.
Meanwhile, the Magpies were priced out of a move for Man United-bound Bryan Mbeumo after it became apparent the Brentford star wanted a £250,000-a-week salary.
Alan Shearer reveals Newcastle United concern
While panic has justifiably swept across the Newcastle fanbase after recent transfer moves hit brick walls, NewcastleWorld understands the club remain confident, as things stand, that their summer will significantly strengthen Eddie Howe’s hand ahead of a return to the Champions League.
And club legend Shearer hopes see transfer activity sooner rather than later, having also shared his concerns about the current situation.
Shearer told The Rest is Football Podcast: “There’s no sporting director, is there? He’s left. There’s no chief executive. he’s going. They’ve lost out, I guess, to Mbeumo, Pedro, heavily linked with James Trafford. I’d like to see a little bit more activity at Newcastle, yeah.”
Alan Shearer turns down Newcastle United sporting director role
After Shearer raised his concerns, former Manchester City defender Micah Richards jokingly asked the Premier League’s record goalscorer if he fancied becoming Newcastle’s head of recruitment. His response? A blunt “no”.
Newcastle hope to appoint Mitchell’s successor soon with Nottingham Forest chief football officer Ross Wilson and former Arsenal assistant sporting director Jason Ayto understood to have been identified as the leading candidates.
Wilson Forest in April 2023 and has helped to oversee their rise from battling relegation to qualifying for the Europa Conference League. Prior to that, the 41-year-old has enjoyed success in similar roles at Rangers, Southampton, Huddersfield Town and Watford.
Meanwhile, Ayto held the top job at the Emirates on an interim basis following Edu’s departure before leaving at the end of the season.
Newcastle United close in on double transfer swoop
Newcastle United are understood to be closing in on a deals for Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga and Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford.
The Magpies saw an opening bid of £45million turned down for Elanga last week but have returned with an improved £55m offer. Forest’s stance has been that Elanga is not for sale but talks are advancing and an agreement is now thought to be close.
In terms of Trafford, while the deal has largely been thrashed out, there has been some last-minute to and fro when it comes to finalising the final details, with the Clarets understood to have shifted the goalposts on more than one occasion.
Last year, Newcastle were willing to part with £20m. Now, Trafford is set to command a fee upwards of £30m, which would represent a record transfer fee for a British goalkeeper, surpassing Jordan Pickford’s move from Sunderland to Everton in 2017.
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