Newcastle United have been one of the stories of the season in the Premier League. Their recent 6-1 drubbing of Tottenham Hotspur seals their fate as a deserving top-four side, and it will be quite something to see the likes of Joelinton and Miguel Almirón in the Champions League. Those two promising talents have turned into bonafide Premier League stars.
Of course, Saudi Arabia have invested heavily in Newcastle for a purpose. Like the UAE with Manchester City and Qatar with PSG, Saudi Arabia intend on competing at the highest level. Both the UAE and Qatar projects have yet to win the Champions League despite massive financial investment, whereas the Magpies have been more about making smart signings and maximizing their squad strength as a cohesive unit.
Newcastle have a plan, and that plan has been more immediately successful than expected. But make no mistake, they are, in their own way, willing to make calculated “splashes” on the transfer market. Look no further than the sublime Bruno Guimarães
Lazio CM Sergej Milinković-Savić
Sergej Milinković-Savić is one of the best midfielders on the planet, even if playing for Lazio in Serie A makes him fly under the radar. Surely, people must know he is a very good footballer, but it still seems like the Serbian international doesn’t get enough recognition for being a world-class monster in midfield.
Seriously, who else can do what Milinković-Savić does in midfield? He covers as much ground as any player in the Italian top flight, scores goals, creates chances, and adds a robustness on the ball. A midfield with “SMS’ and Bruno Guimarães – one of the elite defensive midfielders in world football – would be a cheat code.
Lazio know what they have in Milinković-Savić, which is a huge reason why he has not moved to Juventus or another top club. In their own right, of course, Lazio are a very good club, currently having the edge in the battle for second behind Napoli in Serie A.
If Newcastle want to take their squad to the next level, opening up the checkbook for SMS would be a wise investment. He is in the prime of his career.
Celta Vigo CM Gabri Veiga
Gabri Veiga is a midfield talent on the ascent, and his breakout helped pull Celta Vigo – usually a club safely in the top half of LaLiga – out of the relegation battle doldrums.
Although Veiga isn’t the all-arounder or the athlete that Milinković-Savić is, he’s a wonderful technician with a deadly eye for goal. Veiga is so adept at knowing when to move into the box to attack the ball for a shot on target, and he has a wicked boot capable of scoring goals from nothing.
The 20-year-old is being tracked by all the top clubs for a reason, including LaLiga giants Real Madrid and Premier League rivals Manchester City.
With nine goals and four assists in his first season as a starter for Celta Vigo, Veiga is on the fast-track for stardom. His quality in the final third and difference-making goal-scoring touch make him an intriguing option for Newcastle. They could use that profile in the Champions League.
Bayer Leverkusen RW Moussa Diaby
Even when Bayer Leverkusen were struggling before Xabi Alonso’s game-changing arrival, Moussa Diaby still managed to stand out.
He never gives up on the team. In addition to the goals and assists, you can always count on Diaby to tirelessly attack the defense one-on-one, carrying the ball into the final third and then into dangerous positions.
The connection he has with Jeremie Frimpong is telepathic, and if Newcastle were to push hard to pay for Diaby from Leverkusen, then they would be encouraged by how Diaby could work with Kieran Trippier. Diaby has grown into a more mature, team-first player, and he is one of the best wingers at creating chances off the dribble.
Left-footed right wingers are a rare commodity in world football right now. When it comes to options who can star in the immediate future and only get better over the next five to ten years, it’s hard to think of more attractive transfer targets for the Magpies than Diaby.
The 23-year-old is averaging 1.9 key passes and 1.5 dribbles completed per match this season to go with a whopping 16 goal contributions in the Bundesliga.
Nice DM Khéphren Thuram
Every top club in need of a midfielder who can add quality in defense and an additional goal-scoring touch should be looking closely at Khéphren Thuram. Surely, top clubs have already had him on their radar for more than a season, as Thuram is starting to truly break out as one of the best players in Ligue 1 in 2022/23.
Nice have had their issue this season, but nothing can be pinned on the young Thuram, whose all-around impact in midfield has spared the club’s blushes a number of times. A fantastic athlete, Thuram is a great fit on paper for the Magpies in a box-to-box role working with Bruno G.
Thuram is averaging 2.6 combined tackles and interceptions, 1.3 dribbles completed, and 1.0 key passes per game in Ligue 1. The 22-year-old is rapidly improving on a month-to-month basis, and while he won’t be a bargain signing, he should fall in line with the cost of players Newcastle tend to target. He’s in that sweet spot and fits both the profile and the development range of the kind of midfielder Newcastle might want.
Lyon FW Rayan Cherki
Lastly, we come to Rayan Cherki. Lyon continue to ease along the young forward, knowing that even in a talent-rich country like France, he is one of the best talents this league has produced in recent years.
Cherki is a natural on the ball. His change of direction, technical ability with difficult passes and crosses, and dribbling in tight spaces make him a game-changing substitute or a well-above-average starter for Lyon.
PSG and others have been trying to go after Cherki, and we know Newcastle are prepared to take on all comers.
As they should. Cherki is the kind of special, ascending, and exciting attacking talent that the Magpies should want. On a per-90 basis, he is one of the most productive players in all of European football, especially when the ball is at his feet. He beats his man with a purpose.
This season, Cherki is averaging 3.8 dribbles completed and 3.3 key passes per 90 minutes. Those are stunning numbers, especially the chance-creation statistics. Cherki is only 19 years old, but he already looks capable of being a star.
He should truly arrive on the big stage in 2023/24, and while that implies Lyon will wait to cash-in, perhaps Newcastle can seize the opportunity. Cherki is 100 percent worth following closely on the transfer market.
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He covered Real Madrid from 2019-2022 for The Real Champs as a site manager. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.