Does anyone get the impression that the Newcastle United owners have just given up?
I was optimistic going into the transfer window this summer.
I felt that we would have learned significantly from the mistakes of last year.
With a Chief Executive and Sporting Director in place I thought we would have transfers lined up, that we would be more agile and efficient in the transfer market as we looked to rejuvenate the squad after a challenging season in 2025-26.
Things got off to a solid start. It had been clear for months that Anthony Gordon was out the door. A move to Barcelona is too good to turn down for any player. To extract £70 million for a player who has been largely disappointing for the previous two seasons, I felt was excellent business.
I was further encouraged by the signing of new goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen. This was exactly the sort of signing that typified the early days under these Newcastle United owners. Young talent signed from Europe. No fussing. Not weeks of speculation. Simply deal done.
Next came news of a deal set to be concluded for Spanish winger Victor Munoz, with multiple reports suggesting Newcastle United had met his buyout clause.
And this, unfortunately, is where the good news ends. Just like happened so often last season, Newcastle got gazumped. Liverpool swooped from nowhere and it was swiftly announced that Munoz would join the Anfield club this summer.
Since then.
Silence.
No prospect of any other player being seriously linked with the club.
However, there has been plenty of noise.
Plenty of talk about players leaving the club. Take your pick. Bruno Guimaraes being linked heavily with Arsenal. Tottenham seemingly intent on signing Sandro Tonali with the Italian reportedly keen on playing for Roberto De Zerbi. Lewis Hall linked with Manchester United. Plenty of clubs would likely be after Tino Livramento as well if he could stay fit for more than five minutes.
Still no talk of a new stadium or training ground.
You can’t help wondering where everything is leading to.
After we won the Carabao Cup to end our long trophy drought there were two paths ahead of us.
It was either the end of the beginning, or the beginning of the end. The more time that passes it feels like the latter might be true.
(Aaron also has his very own Substack)