Chapter 10 Signings
The summer air in Newcastle was thick with anticipation. The 2018 World Cup had just ended, with France lifting the trophy after an unforgettable 4-2 victory against Croatia. Now, as the buzz of international football subsided, the focus shifted back to club football, and nowhere was the excitement higher than in the pubs of Newcastle.
Inside a bustling pub, the atmosphere was electric. The tables were packed, and all eyes were glued to the television above the bar, where Sky Sports was running its latest segment on the summer transfer window. The Newcastle United faithful had more reason than usual to be excited. With new ownership and a substantial transfer budget, this was shaping up to be one of their most ambitious seasons in years.
The Sky Sports presenter was rattling off the news, each piece more tantalizing than the last.
"And in breaking news, Newcastle United have just finalized a £40 million deal for Angel Di María from Paris Saint-Germain. The Argentine winger, renowned for his creativity and experience, is set to bring some real star power to St James' Park."
The pub erupted in cheers, glasses clinking as fans toasted the signing. A group of Newcastle fans huddled near the bar, excited chatter filling the air as they processed the news.
"Di María, mate! Can you believe it?" said Paul, a middle-aged fan with a Newcastle scarf draped over his shoulders. His eyes were wide with disbelief, still processing the idea of such a high-profile player joining their club. "The last time we had a player of this caliber was... I don't even know, maybe Shearer?"
"Oh fuck off," replied Tommy, sitting next to him. He was younger, barely in his twenties, but just as passionate. "But we're building something serious here. With the other signings we've made, we're definitely looking at European football this season."
Paul grinned but took a slow sip of his pint, the unease clear in his expression. "I don't know, Tommy. Don't get me wrong, I love what we're doing. But I can't shake this feeling…"
Tommy looked at him curiously. "What feeling?"
Paul shrugged. "You know, it's all happening fast. New owners, big signings, expectations through the roof. Feels like it could either be brilliant or fall apart. We've seen it before with teams that buy too quickly—remember QPR a few years back?"
Tommy scoffed. "Nah, we've got Rafa. The man's a genius. Took us up from the Championship, to the Prem with barely any money. We'll be fine."
The Sky Sports presenter continued as the fans in the pub turned their attention back to the screen.
"And here's a look at how the Newcastle squad is shaping up after these summer additions:"
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Newcastle United's Squad for 2018/19 Season
Goalkeepers
Martin Dúbravka
Karl Darlow
Freddie Woodman
Defenders
Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax - £50 million)
Max Aarons (Norwich City - £20 million)
Ben Mee (Burnley - £30 million)
Paul Dummett
Fabian Schär
Federico Fernández
Midfielders
Bruno Guimarães (Lyon - £30 million)
Youri Tielemans (Monaco - £20 million)
Ki Sung-yueng
Jonjo Shelvey
Mohamed Diame
Isaac Hayden
Forwards
Angel Di María (PSG - £40 million)
Ayoze Pérez
Salomón Rondón
Jacob Murphy
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Paul's eyes widened even more as the names rolled across the screen. "Look at that..…Ben Mee? The lad from Burnley?"
"Yep, solid defender, you live under a rock or something mate?this deal was done ages ago. Tommy replied, his excitement growing. "Experienced, tough. He'll shore up our defense for sure."
Paul nodded, impressed. "But you know what? That Ayoze Pérez kid—I'm glad we didn't sell him. He's a real talent. Might not be as flashy as Di María, but he's got something about him."
Another fan, Mick, chimed in, raising his pint. "Here's to Rafa! He's turning this club into a force again. European football, here we come!"
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The Sky Sports Presenter Continued
The presenter on Sky Sports turned toward another screen, revealing a list of academy signings. "Newcastle United has also been busy in securing young talents for their academy and future prospects. Take a look at this list."
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Academy & Under-21 Signings
Alphonso Davies – Vancouver – £500k
Florence Wirtz – FC Köln – Undisclosed Fee (Loaned Back)
Jamal Musiala – Chelsea – Undisclosed Fee
William Saliba – Saint-Étienne – £3 million (Loaned Back)
Pedri – CF Juventud Laguna – Undisclosed Fee
Erling Haaland – Molde FK – £5 million (Loaned Back)
Sandro Tonali – Brescia – £2.5 million
Joško Gvardiol – Dinamo Zagreb – £700k
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – Rustavi – £400k
Jude Bellingham – Birmingham – £2 million (Loaned Back)
A hush fell over the pub as the presenter spoke again. "Exciting times for Newcastle United fans. The new owners have delivered in their first transfer window, and there are rumors that more signings could follow. But for now, we'll take a quick commercial break."
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As the screen faded to black, the chatter in the pub grew louder. The excitement was palpable, but Paul still couldn't shake his cautious optimism. "I'll admit, these signings look good, but this kind of spending usually brings pressure. We're going to have to live up to the hype, and if things go south… well, we know how quickly it can turn in football."
Tommy slapped him on the back. "Stop worrying! Look at the players we've brought in. Rafa knows what he's doing. The club's in good hands."
Paul nodded, taking another sip of his pint. "I hope so. If anyone can handle this kind of project, it's him."
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Across town, Ren was driving back from a long day of coaching his under-16 team. Ren leaned back in his seat, his mind buzzing with thoughts of the upcoming season. PrimeKick Investments had done their job. The money had been spent—on new signings, and the academy prospects they secured were some of the brightest in Europe.
"Fuck i should've bought the club earlier and got Rodri his value is only going to increase...." he thought, gripping the steering wheel tighter. The budget's exhausted.
He knew they couldn't afford any more signings, and they had already pushed the boundaries of Financial Fair Play. They had done well to bring in players like de Ligt and Guimarães, and the fans were buzzing with excitement. But Ren felt a pang of frustration.
He glanced out the window at the passing streetlights. "If only we could've gotten more academy players. The limits on youth signings make it hard for clubs to hoard talent especially if you're buying them when they're older....."
He sighed, feeling the weight of the club's future on his shoulders. The pressure was mounting. Newcastle wasn't just his passion anymore—it was a massive investment. If they didn't secure European football this season, there could be serious consequences, financially and but they could take the loses
"We've come this far," Ren thought. "Now we just have to trust Rafa. He knows the team. He knows the league."
As he pulled up to his apartment building, Ren parked the car and sat for a moment, staring out into the night. The excitement of the transfer window had lifted spirits, but the real test would come once the season started.
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Back at the pub, Paul and Tommy clinked their glasses together, toasting to a brighter future for Newcastle United. The Sky Sports feed had returned, but the conversations among fans continued to swirl with optimism, concern, and everything in between.
For now, it was a moment of hope—a belief that with new signings and Rafa's steady hand, they could challenge for European football and finally return to glory.
But underneath it all, Ren, and perhaps even some of the more cautious fans, knew that football was a fickle game. One bad run of form, one key injury, and the entire project could come crashing down.