Newcastle had a howler with Joao Palhinha

Newcastle United made 4 additions to their squad over the summer time switch window as they regarded to bolster their group after the 2021/22 marketing campaign.

Dan Ashworth backed Magpies boss Eddie Howe by bringing in Sven Botman, Nick Pope, Matt Targett, and Alexander Isak on everlasting offers, while Loris Karius has since been signed on a free switch to negate an damage to Karl Darlow.

This got here after PIF splashed the money in January to signal Dan Burn, Bruno Guimaraes, Chris Wooden, and Kieran Trippier, while in addition they introduced in Targett on mortgage previous to his full-time change in the summertime.

Nonetheless, Ashworth might dwell to remorse lacking out on one participant Newcastle had been reportedly eager on bringing to St. James’ Park previous to this season.

Earlier this yr, Record reported that the Magpies had been one of many golf equipment thinking about signing Portuguese worldwide Joao Palhinha from Sporting. Manchester United, Tottenham, and Wolves had been additionally named as potential suitors for the enforcer, who had caught the attention in his residence nation in the course of the 2021/22 marketing campaign.

He performed 27 instances in Portugal’s high flight and averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.10 as he made his presence identified off the ball with 4.0 tackles and interceptions per recreation.

Not one of the aforementioned groups opted to snap him up, although, as newly-promoted Fulham moved to signal the midfielder at first of July for a charge within the area of £17m.

Since making the transfer to Craven Cottage, Palhinha, who was dubbed an “engine” by Statman Dave, has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water with a string of spectacular performances.

He has began all seven of their matches within the top-flight and has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.13 – a rating solely Joelinton (7.20) can higher amongst Newcastle’s midfielders – with reporter Steve Wilson describing him as “outstanding“.

The 27-year-old has made a whopping 5.6 tackles and interceptions per recreation for Fulham, while successful 66% of his particular person duels – exhibiting that he has the energy to dominate the opposition.

No participant has accomplished extra tackles (32) than the Portugal worldwide within the Premier League this season and solely Tyler Adams (4.7) has averaged extra per recreation.

Fulham supporter Alex Harris described him because the “real deal” and the previous Sporting man’s spectacular statistics within the top-flight again that up as he has been among the best performers within the division by way of defending, while he has additionally chipped in with two targets.

Newcastle reporter Dominic Scurr noted after the membership’s draw with Bournemouth that Bruno Guimaraes was, considerably, wasted as he was pressured to play in a quantity six position, because of the damage to Jonjo Shelvey and the departure of Isaac Hayden in the summertime.

Signing Palhinha from Sporting would have given the Magpies a pure holding midfielder who might enable the likes of Joelinton and Guimaraes to go ahead and do what they do finest within the center and last third, which is why not signing him was a howler by Ashworth.

The Fulham star has now confirmed that he’s Premier League high quality and the sporting director might rue his resolution to not swoop for the 27-year-old increasingly more because the season goes on.