Newcastle "Miss Out" On Two Reported Transfer Targets In One Day

Newcastle United have "missed out" on another two reported summer transfer targets as both Tom Ince and Yevhen Konoplyanka have agreed to moves elsewhere. With little more than a month until their first fixture of the 2015-16 campaign - and three days since the transfer window officially opened - the Magpies are one of only two top-flight clubs, along with Crystal Palace, who are yet to make a signing. Interestingly, new Magpies head coach Steve McClaren took the unusual step of sending out an email to Newcastle supporters on Thursday to announce his backroom staff - as well as to reassure them that work was going on behind the scenes to ensure personnel were recruited.

In this email, McClaren said:

"I know the anticipation is already out there and that you want to see new players coming through the door immediately. "That is natural. For me as head coach, however, it is so important that the right players come through the door. "However long that takes, I want to make sure that we have just the type of people who can come in and force us forward."

On Friday, Tom Ince was snapped up by McClaren's former side Derby County for a club-record £4.75 million, signing a four-year deal at a club where he spent six months on loan at last season. Meanwhile, 45-cap Ukraine international Konoplyanka is set to complete a free transfer from Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk to Sevilla, subject to a medical. Whether these were actual Newcastle transfer targets or not almost misses the point. The Magpies may not have actually "missed out" on the pair, but it is the belief that they have that is creating a growing frustration among the fans. Mike Ashley promised significant investment in his squad, yet no concrete transfer news of any kind has left St James' Park this summer. For that reason, Magpies fans will get the impression that Newcastle are "missing out" on signings - until they finally get a few over the proverbial line... For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow whatculture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.