10 Championship hotshots Newcastle should sign this Summer

FFP. We’re all absolutely sick of it. In fact, it’s driving us towards VAR-levels of apathy for certain areas of the beautiful game. It was a fun honeymoon period for PIF and Co. wasn’t it? All this talk of selling Isak, Botman or Bruno to fund our next transfer deals isn’t exactly the sort of headlines we were hoping for when Geordies were mobbing Saint James’ Park, Bruce was prepping for his P45 and Sam Fender appeared live on national TV hungover.

But in an attempt to soften the blow (and any excuse to get our scouting hats on) we’ve turned to a regular source of promising young players that doesn’t break the bank; The Championship. Yes, yes… you may well scoff - this isn’t exactly the same as poaching key men from AC Milan, but hey, the likes of Jude Bellingham, Ollie Watkins and Jarrod Bowen haven’t fared too badly since cutting their teeth in England’s second division.

We’re sure you’re as tired as we are with the constant links to Sunderland starlets Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham, so we’ve looked at 10 alternatives here… So, without further ado… here are ten exciting signings that could easily give the likes of Sean Longstaff, Jacob Murphy and Dan Burn a run for their money. And in a few cases… even go on to become first-team regulars.

10. Rav van den Berg

Position: Centre Back
Age: 19
Team: Middlesbrough
23/24 Apps (Goals): 34 (1)
Transfermarkt Value: €3.5M

Kicking things off with a rogue choice; it appears our noisy Teeside neighbours have unearthed their own young Dutch Goliath of a Centre Back. Arriving for just £400K last summer from PEC Zwolle, Rav has firmly established himself in the first-team fold, making 34 appearances so far in all competitions. His older brother Sepp is also a regular for Mainz in the Bundesliga, and van den Berg could be a snappy bit of business to turn the tide on our ageing defence. Just imagine what he could learn from Schar and co?

9. Ellis Simms

Position: Striker
Age: 23
Team: Coventry
23/24 Apps (Goals): 43 (14)
Transfermarkt Value: €6M

Now before you sneer, hear me out on this one. I’ve kept a watchful eye on Ellis Simms since he was giving the mackems a fighting chance in the Championship in 2022; netting 7 in 17 as a raw 21-year old. He impressed so much, he was recalled early and tasked with keeping Everton in the top flight; scoring a fantastic goal against Chelsea in which he combined strength, finesse and composure to barge past Kalidou Koulibaly and slot past the ‘keeper for a goal reminiscent of prime Alan Shearer.

It’s fair to say Newcastle have lacked a certain physicality up top at times this season, and in the absence of Wilson and Isak due to injury, the ball hasn’t always stuck for Anthony Gordon. Simms by contrast has been an ever-present for Coventry this year and playing a big part in their run to the FA Cup semis with five goals; including a brace and an assist against Premier League outfit Wolves.

He’s far from the finished article, but as the old adage goes… if you play to his strengths, you’ll see the results - especially with the likes of Trippier whipping in some delicious crosses. Frankly, if Everton hadn’t sold Simms for peanuts and replaced him with Beto for £30M… they’d probably have more goals and no FFP point deductions right now…

8. Hayden Hackney

Position: Defensive Midfielder
Age: 21
Team: Middlesbrough
23/24 Apps (Goals): 28 (2)
Transfermarkt Value: €7M

For as long as time itself it seems… fans have been crying out for a player that can give Bruno the license to roam further forward. Shelvey was sold… Isaac Hayden wasn’t given a chance… Hendrick, erm, never mind.

Hayden Hackney however has been one of the standout players of the Championship this season, yet very few people seem to be actually raving about him. Combining tenacity, excellent ball retention and an eye for a pass; Hackney utilises a broad skillset that merges the roles of Bruno, Longstaff and Miley in the current Toon setup. If given the license to, he can also roam forward, and would be a fantastic interchangeable cog in the midfield engine room if injuries piled up like they have done this season.

I promise I’ll leave the Boro alone after this inclusion, but what can I say? They have a lot of promising young talent, and Hackney might not even have to relocate if he made the short trip to Tyneside…

7. Samuel Edozie

Position: Left Winger
Age: 21
Team: Southampton
23/24 Apps (Goals): 27 (6)
Transfermarkt Value: €7M

I was initially reluctant to include players from the three relegated Premiership clubs in this list, as for so long… it looked like they would all bounce straight back up again. But the emergence of Ipswich as a genuine promotion threat means we might still see one of Leicester, Leeds or Southampton languishing in the second tier for a second year; meaning a cut-price swoop may still be on the cards for some very promising youngsters.

One such youngster is Samuel Edozie, the latest in Southampton’s renowned conveyor belt of talent; proving a bright spark in an otherwise torrid relegation campaign last year, before lighting up the championship this term; with a goal involvement in just over once every two games in the league.

Showing proficiency on both flanks and attacking midfield, he combines the pace and trickery needed that perhaps current Magpies Almiron and Murphy all lack all too often. And at just 21, he’s only going to get better.

6. Gabriel Sara

Position: Central Midfielder
Age: 24
Team: Norwich City
23/24 Apps (Goals): 43 (11)
Transfermarkt Value: €16M

There aren’t many midfielders out there with a similar profile to Big Joe; but compatriot Gabriel Sara is certainly close. Incredible ball control, positioning, aggression and physicality make Sara a suitable 6, 8 or 10 in the modern game; and if we can keep our talismanic number 7 and bring in Sara to play alongside him and Bruno; we’d have a quite sumptuous all-samba midfield.

He’s been pushed into a slightly deeper role at Norwich this year; yet still boasts double figures in goals and assists, which says it all. Destined for the Premier League at some stage, surely.

5. Archie Gray

Position: Central Midfield/Right Back
Age: 18
Team: Leeds United
23/24 Apps (Goals): 41 (1)
Transfermarkt Value: €16M

Okay, so this one is perhaps the most fanciful on this list. Not because Newcastle aren’t a step up from the current Leeds outfit, but because Archie is about as Leeds United-personified as they come; with his father, grandfather and great-uncle playing for Leeds before him. Cut him open, and he’d probably bleed white. It takes a club on the level of Man City with Jack Grealish to prise a local hero away from his beloved hometown team; but hey, if we were willing to splash £30M on Lewis Hall, we could at least test the waters with a similar bid for Gray.

The stats from this season are just astounding; 36 Championship appearances in a team that looks almost certain to return to the Premier League; proving his versatility as a CAM, CM, DM and RB this season, and making the Right-Back position his own in recent months. He really has enjoyed Lewis Miley-levels of career lift-off this season, and the idea of him and Tino battling it out as Trippier’s heir is mouthwatering.

4. Callum O'Hare

Position: Attacking Midfield
Age: 25
Team: Coventry
23/24 Apps (Goals): 27 (9)
Transfermarkt Value: €2.5M

If it wasn’t for a serious injury earlier in the campaign; Callum O’Hare would have very likely been snapped up by a Premier League side by now. And considering we’re still employing the likes of Issac Hayden and Jeff Hendrick in midfield; we could do a lot worse than the former Villa youth starlet.

Quick, industrious, creative, and with a wonderful eye for a goal, Callum O’Hare has everything in his locker to embrace Eddie Howe’s intense, direct, team-based approach. Considering we were linked with James Maddison last summer - who fits this profile of player very closely - I think O’Hare could be a very cost-effective option for breaking the lines between midfield and attack and providing that link to Alexander Isak; who has often had to come deep to receive the ball. Just take a look at his impact against promotion-chasing Leicester back in January to see the kind of effect he can make on a game; trust me, he’s class… and his contract’s up in June.

3. Shea Charles

Position: Defensive Midfielder
Age: 20
Team: Southampton
23/24 Apps (Goals): 33 (0)
Transfermarkt Value: €10M

Another player who wouldn’t exactly come at a cut-price fee; Shea Charles arrived last summer from Treble Winners Man City at a cost in excess of £12M. However, it was always going to take some re-investment to fill the Romeo Lavia-shaped hole in defensive midfield; and Charles has done so with aplomb.

Similar to our own breakthrough star Lewis Miley, Charles has shown maturity and composure beyond his years; becoming a reliable option in a Southampton side that has blown teams away this season. Naturally, he isn’t fully fleshed out in some areas yet, but he’s strong, mobile and reads the game extremely well. In fact, he’s already being touted as a future Northern Ireland captain; and looks set to be the latest success story from Manchester City’s imperious academy.

Another option that could push Bruno further forward - yes please!

2. Leif Davis

Position: Left Back
Age: 24
Team: Ipswich Town
23/24 Apps (Goals): 36 (1)
Transfermarkt Value: €6M

This inclusion probably won’t come as a surprise to Toon fans who have cast a keen eye on the Championship this season; Leif Davis has been outstanding. It’s not been easy picking a player of the season so far in an Ipswich side that has upset the script and is firmly in the driving seat for back-to-back promotions; but his stats speak for themselves. 17 assists from Left-Back is insane; and a number that even Kieran Trippier would be proud of. Plus, with our well-documented struggles in the left side of defence with Dan Burn this season; we simply had to throw his name in there.

Finally, he was born in Newcastle and a product of the Wallsend Boys Club. Meant to be, right?

1. Jaden Philogene

Position: Left Wing
Age: 22
Team: Hull City
23/24 Apps (Goals): 24 (8)
Transfermarkt Value: €12M

Eagle-eyed Geordies may recognise our top spot pick from pre-season; when he ran us ragged in a 3-3 draw in the States. Sadly for Philogene, that wasn’t enough to convince Unai Emery that he deserved a first-team place; and off he went to Hull in a £5M deal which frankly is looking like an absolute steal for the Tigers. This kid has got it all; pace, trickery, technique with both feet and a real ‘maverick’ approach to the game. If you haven’t already; please watch the video above to see his Rabona goal versus Rotherham in February and thank me later…

Reports are that Villa have first dibs with a buyback clause if Hull get promoted; but that just makes me want him more… imagine destroying Villa’s defence with their former wonderkid? Fantastic stuff.

Is there anyone I’ve missed out? Who would you take from the Championship? Let us know your thoughts!