10 Stages Of Newcastle United's 2015 Summer Transfer Window
5. Movement... Finally
Eventually, Newcastle will start to make inroads in the pursuit of new recruits and put to bed the apprehension that has engulfed supporters for the best part of the summer by making an enormous statement of intent with their first permanent signing of the transfer window. Par for the course of this whirlwind of a football club to do just that. Georginio Wijnaldum has finally arrived as the Magpies' first summer acquisition for a £14.5 million fee, making the 24-year-old PSV Eindhoven captain the fifth Dutch international at St James' Park - and Newcastle's third most-expensive transfer ever. To land a player of Wijnaldums dynamism and undoubted pedigree, one that was mentioned in the same breadth as Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain not so long back, represents a significant coup for Newcastle, Lee Charnley especially, and is a clear-cut declaration of the clubs refurbished ambition moving forward. And with more signings expected in the coming weeks, Anderlecht striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is likely to be the next name on Charnleys hitlist, it could turn out to be an exciting summer after all for Newcastles long-suffering fans. Accordingly, the acquisition of Wijnaldum represents the first piece of physical evidence that Mike Ashley was candid and steadfast in his pledge to provide the necessary financial investment that will enable the "football board" to purchase the type of player with the components to galvanise despondent supporters and transform Newcastle into a top-eight team. Perhaps this is when the hostility between club and supporter finally begins to thaw.
