After a tumultuous year on Tyneside, Newcastle United announced earlier this week that Paul Mitchell would be stepping down as Sporting Director at the end of June.
Despite some positive moments, like putting a strong focus on our women’s and youth teams, as well as selling both Lloyd Kelly and Miguel Almiron during the winter window, it’s been far from smooth sailing for Mitchell in the role.
But according to a new report, the 45-year-old is committed to making one last strong contribution to the club before he parts for pastures new in a matter of weeks.
According to Luke Edwards at The Telegraph, Paul Mitchell is ‘determined’ to make ‘at least one key signing’ before he steps away from his role at Newcastle United next month.
As we know, the former Monaco and Spurs director pushed to bring in Marc Guehi last summer and oversaw a deadline day bid for Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga, but both moves failed to materialise.
To end a turbulent and short-lived stint on a high and take advantage of our much-improved PSR position, however, it seems Mitchell is eager to add one or two more impressive deals to his CV.
Edwards writes: “Despite the upheaval of a second sporting director leaving in the space of 18 months following Mitchell’s decision to walk away, there is a “business as usual” attitude behind the scenes.”
“Indeed, Mitchell is determined to make at least one key signing before he steps down in four weeks’ time, especially as he has not made a first-team signing in the 10 months he has been in charge of recruitment.”
“Speed is now of the essence, particularly as Newcastle are likely to face competition for the players they have identified as leading targets.”
With the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea already making significant moves in this summer’s transfer window, one would hope that we take action within the next week to show that we mean business.
Even those Mitchell’s tenure, much like predecessor Dan Ashworth’s, will divide fans and pundits alike, few can deny that Mitchell certainly had a few wins over the last 12 months.
Perhaps his finest hour came with the appointment of James Bunce as the new’s club performance director: a seamless appointment with the pair having previously worked together at Monaco.
With a new focus on player fitness and wellbeing under Bunce, only three other Premier League clubs (West Ham, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest) reported fewer days lost to injuries within their squad.
The aforementioned sales of Miguel Almiron and Lloyd Kelly, two players well below the standard we needed at times during this intense season, for over £30m combined was nothing short of a master stroke by Mitchell and the team.
Mitchell’s vast connections across Europe can also not be understated: take the signing of Antonio Cordero from Malaga, where Mitchell was able to sell the Spaniard on the Newcastle project and pick us over a move to the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
So whilst Paul Mitchell will be best remembered for having a more than frosty relationship with Eddie Howe, and the rumours that he thought we overspent for Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento, the former Spurs man will be a big miss who could be a big asset should he move to another Premier League club in the near future.
Add Comment