Newcastle United finally appointed a new Sporting Director following Dan Ashworth’s departure to Manchester United and Paul Mitchell is set to have a different approach to the club’s recruitment strategy.
It has been a summer of change at Newcastle so far, with the key departure of Dan Ashworth after Newcastle’s stand-off with Manchester United came to an end. The Magpies wasted little time in getting a replacement, announcing Paull Mitchell as Ashworth’s replacement.
Senior players Paul Dummett and Matt Ritchie were released following the expiry of their contracts at the end of last season. Newcastle also saw Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson leave Tyneside as the club adhered to Profit and Sustainability Rules.
Eddie Howe has been happy with the club’s recruitment since its takeover in 2021, however, he is keen to see a different approach in the longer term following Mitchell’s arrival.
Mitchell to provide a different approach to recruitment
The Athletic are reporting that Mitchell will have a longer-term approach through a more data-led strategy to recruitment. Newcastle’s previous approach was largely based on the opinions of their scouts rather than following other Premier League clubs in being more scientific.
Howe has desired a more data led approach and Mitchell’s previous dealings suggest he is the perfect man to implement this new strategy.
There will be more aspects to Mitchell’s job than just recruitment, but that is where his expertise lies. Newcastle are expected to learn lessons from their chaotic end to June in a bid to avoid a potential points deduction.
The strains of June will lead to greater planning for the future to avoid putting themselves in a similar position again.
A key part of planning for the future is dealing with the cub’s contract situation, 13 players are in the final 12 months of their contracts and could leave the club for free in 2025. Of those players, Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, Callum Wilson, Sean Longstaff and Fabian Schar have all been key to the club’s recent success under Howe.
Mitchell has a proven track record in the transfer market
Necastle’s new Sporting Director’s track record of attracting players is impressive. During his time at Tottenham Hotspur Mitchell’s deals to bring Son Heung-min and Dele Alli to the club stand out. He was also influential in bringing Saudio Mane to Southampton.
Howe will hope Mitchell can continue in the same vein by bringing in a similar calibre of players to Newcastle. Mitchell was unattached and was able to work on deals in the background before his appointment at Newcastle, meaning any potential incoming transfers can quickly gather pace.
The Newcastle manager wasn’t expecting to see an overhaul of the squad this summer, though with key players already departing the club, and more expected to follow, the Magpies’ squad is set to look very different at the start of next season.
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