Newcastle Should Not Have Sold These Two Players
Newcastle United have been major movers and shakers in the European transfer market in recent years. Huge signings have not been uncommon. However, neither deals have been profitable and they’ve been let down numerous times financially.
Part of Newcastle’s transfer policy before Rafael Benitez took charge was bringing in players under 25 years of age. They did seemingly see the problem of those players using Newcastle as a stepping stone. The owner was simply interested in moving them on for a profit sum and did not see that the wider problem was having players who did not want to play for the club for the long term. This was an ultimate damage for them.
Newcastle fans were happy to see the back of Moussa Sissoko and they did not blame Georginio Wijnaldum for joining Liverpool. However, there are two more players who Newcastle should have done more to retain.
Daryl Janmaat
Well, the player wanted to leave and it’s hard for fans to support such a player. However, he is a much better attacking right back than Vurnon Anita or DeAndre Yedlin. Janmaat would have single-handedly been responsible for an extra few points in the league.
For his part, the only serious offer Janmaat had on the table, to stay in the top flight, was from Watford. Playing for a mid-table Premier League club, who even had a chance of relegation, was surely not a great career move. If Jonjo Shelvey was willing to stay at Newcastle, Janmaat should have been willing too. Furthermore, Dwight Gayle and Matt Ritchie had offers to stay in the top league but chose to go to Newcastle, to work with Rafa. Janmaat should have taken the same route and Newcastle should have refused to sell.
Davide Santon
Another full-back of note; many believed that there was a fall out between Santon and short-term manager John Carver. Did Newcastle really believe Carver was there for the long term? Recent history would suggest they did not, and so it is a crazy move from the club to have released this player.
Santon had become an adopted Geordie. A local girlfriend and child had cemented his place as a part of the community on Tyneside. His talent was never in question. With the player able to shine at right-back and left-back positions, Santon’s value in the game was underlined when he was snapped up by Inter Milan. Another player whose presence may well have been enough to stop Newcastle getting relegated last season.
