Newcastle blame Manchester United, makes Rashford U-turn and launch worst £125m ‘triple-swoop’ ever
Newcastle’s £125m ‘Triple-Swoop’ Plan Mocked as Transfer Strategy Unravels Amid Market Realities
Newcastle United’s ambitious £125 million “triple-swoop” for Joao Pedro, Anthony Elanga, and James Trafford is already being branded one of the most embarrassing transfer sagas of the summer — with critics suggesting the club’s missteps reflect deeper issues with valuation strategy and unrealistic expectations.
Despite claims that the Magpies were gearing up to sign three Premier League talents in a bold move to strengthen their squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, recent developments have cast doubt on the feasibility of any of the deals materializing — at least under the terms Newcastle reportedly offered.
The Ill-Fated ‘Triple-Swoop’
According to Luke Edwards of The Telegraph, Newcastle had made bids for Brighton forward Joao Pedro, Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga, and Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford, with all three players reportedly interested in joining Eddie Howe’s squad.
The headline-grabbing package was framed as a signal of intent from the Saudi-backed club, seeking to reassert itself after a mixed 2024/25 campaign. Edwards even labeled the push “hugely ambitious,” stating it could represent a “remarkable piece of business” if completed.
But optimism quickly gave way to realism.
By the fifth paragraph of Edwards’ report, it emerged that no formal bids matching club valuations had actually been submitted. Newcastle had merely verbally discussed an offer of around £50 million for Joao Pedro — well below Brighton’s expectations. Forest, meanwhile, immediately rejected a £45 million bid for Elanga and offered no counter, signaling a clear unwillingness to entertain such figures.
As for James Trafford, a reported £25 million offer was also turned down by Burnley, who value the 22-year-old shot-stopper closer to £40 million after his outstanding, promotion-securing season. This was later confirmed by The Times, which reported that both Burnley and Brighton had knocked back Newcastle’s initial approaches.
Blame Game and Budget Realities
Some within the Newcastle camp are reportedly frustrated by Manchester United’s transfer activity, which they believe has distorted the market by paying what they consider “inflated fees” — thus setting an “artificial benchmark.” But critics point out that United simply paid what the market demanded — unlike Newcastle, who appear to be offering below-par deals while expecting rival clubs to comply.
Compounding the confusion is the lack of flexibility in Newcastle’s budget. Only earlier this month, Edwards himself wrote that Newcastle couldn’t spend “upwards of £60 million” on new players while also covering rising wage demands — particularly with a new contract in the works for Alexander Isak. That raises the question: how does a £125 million triple deal fit into a sub-£60m budget?
It’s also unclear why Newcastle continue to fixate on Premier League-based targets, where fees are notoriously high, rather than look abroad — a strategy that could stretch their resources further.
“Strategy” or Just Noise?
The idea of simultaneously pursuing three expensive targets — all from tough-selling Premier League clubs — without actually meeting any of their valuations, has raised eyebrows. Edwards refers to this as a “bold strategy,” but critics argue it’s simply unrealistic.
The plan’s structure now appears to be falling apart. Edwards himself notes that if the club manages to agree a fee for Pedro but not Elanga, they may abandon the latter pursuit entirely — and vice versa. In other words, the “triple-swoop” might not even remain a triple.
In reality, the Magpies’ decision to launch multiple underwhelming offers simultaneously — without securing any one deal — has left fans questioning whether there was ever a coherent plan in place. What’s more, the delays are eating into pre-season prep time, with training camps and overseas tours fast approaching.
Recruitment Hopes Hanging by a Thread
If Newcastle fail to land any of the three players, they will need to quickly pivot to alternative targets. However, few have been named, and it seems the club is still locked into a Premier League-only shopping spree — where valuations are often inflated by the so-called “English tax.”
Newcastle’s pursuit of a centre-back remains unresolved, with Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace reportedly still under consideration. But again, any progress will depend on meeting valuation demands — something Newcastle’s current transfer strategy seems allergic to.
Mixed Messages on Marcus Rashford
To further muddy the waters, Newcastle have also been linked — and unlinked — with a move for Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford. An exclusive from The Sun on June 18 claimed Newcastle were “ready to rescue” the England international from his limbo at Old Trafford and offer him Champions League football. But just a week later, another exclusive from the same outlet insisted Rashford was “not on the club’s list of targets.”
It’s a telling sign of how unclear Newcastle’s recruitment vision currently appears — even to those supposedly closest to it.
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Final Thoughts
What began as an attention-grabbing summer campaign to strengthen Eddie Howe’s squad with three Premier League talents now looks like a cautionary tale in poor planning and miscalculated ambition. Newcastle’s supposed £125 million triple swoop has so far been reduced to a series of rejected bids, public confusion, and inconsistent messaging about both budget and targets.
If the Magpies are truly looking to build a squad “to be feared,” they may need to start by overhauling the approach of the very team responsible for bringing those players in.
Because right now, the only thing bold about Newcastle’s transfer strategy is just how quickly it seems to be falling apart.