💰 ✍🏼 Newcastle take their outlay to around £135m this summer, with the arrival of Lukáš Horníček from SC Braga.
Sporting Director Ross Wilson:
🗣️ “Lukáš’ progress in recent years has been remarkable and he has firmly established himself as one of Europe’s top young goalkeepers.
🗣️ “We knew there would be no shortage of clubs interested in acquiring Lukáš this summer after everything he achieved last season, but it quickly became evident how keen he was to be a part of what we are building here.”
#NUFC 🧤
Matthias Jaissle is a very very smart coach. The fit with Newcastle’s squad is there because he does have a default setting of wanting to dominate with a high pressing 4-4-2. However it is more than that. You can see that his players are completely in sync off-the-ball - they can be sitting in a mid-block and the triggers to transform this into high pressing are harmonic and result in the opposition being strangled.
A key thing that Newcastle will benefit from is Jaissle’s flexibility. He is not a plan A only “my way and only my way” type of coach. He adapts to and maximises the talent that he has. You can see this with how he has set up plays that maximise Galeño (in-behind threat from wide), Firmino (pocket player), Toney (aerial threat/hold-up), Mahrez (wide creator). And he often targets opposition team weaknesses with his players’ strengths. This should have Newcastle competing very well strategically vs big teams. It was a hallmark of his back to back AFC Champions League wins. What comes across with his football is that he fundamentally has very strong understanding of his players’ games and will help them excel.
Strong feeling is that Jaissle is a hidden coaching gem (because he’s been in Saudi). He should play into the strengths of Newcastle’s squad but also give them extra tools to evolve. This is a very exciting appointment.
Eddie Howe had to go. The simple equation is that A) the framework with how he builds up in possession is limited, which is why a player like Woltemade struggled to find a role and why Miley didn’t play more in the last 2 seasons. B) even when he recruited for his direct build-up framework, buys like Wissa & Elanga are simply not good enough to be spending £110m on (almost the whole Isak fee). Untenable position. More on the Matthias Jaissle appointment later.
🚨🇨🇭 Newcastle will get in touch with Johan Manzambi’s camp to try close the agreement on personal terms.
Agreement done days ago club to club with Freiburg — but green light from player and his camp still needed to get it sealed.
Decision up to Manzambi.