It was a busy transfer window for Newcastle United, as new manager Alan Shearer brought a total of 5 players for a combined fee of £36.5 million. Two players left St James's Park for French clubs, bringing in a combined fee of £39.25 million. Our new football columnist and ex-Newcastle and Australia striker will give his overview on the transfer business that has been going on at Newcastle, starting with the departures.
The retired striker played 38 times for the club, scoring on 7 occasions.
Departures
Yohan Cabaye, 26, left Newcastle for French side PSG for a huge £23 million.
![]()
Viduka: The player was great for Newcastle but for the massive fee involved, I think Alan had to sell.
Rating: 8/10
Papiss Cisse, 28, left for French side AS Monaco, after he could not reach an agreement with chairman Mike Ashley over the new shirt sponsor 'Wonga', a payday loan company, which clashed with Cisse's religious beliefs as a Muslim. He was sold for £16.25 million.
![]()
Viduka: He had a good season for Newcastle last year but with the ongoing feud over the sponsor, I think Alan did the right thing by selling as some of the players were pressuring him into doing something and the morale was being affected. Decent fee for the player too.
Rating: 7/10
Arrivals
'Wonderkid', Joe van der Sar,14, joined from amateur Dutch side Noordwijk on a free transfer.
![]()
Viduka: With the guidance of his father, ex-Manchester United and Holland goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, 14 year old Joe van der Sar has already been touted as a future star. The 'wonderkid' looks to have a great future in football so well done to Alan for snapping him up for free.
Rating: 8/10
Italian striker Alessandro Matri, 28, cost Newcastle £7.75 million from Juventus. He has been capped 6 times for Italy, scoring once.
![]()
Viduka: I think this is a great buy for the club as a replacement for Cisse and I've seen Matri play at Juventus over the past two seasons and he has done well for the Italian giants. £7.75 million is a bargain.
Rating: 8/10
Argentinian winger, Nicolás Gaitán, 24, was bought by Newcastle for £8 million from Benfica. He has been capped 6 times by Argentina, a squad which contains the likes of Lionel Messi and Sergio Agüero.
![]()
Viduka: He looks like he could be a good buy for Shearer but I'm not sure whether he will fit in to Newcastle's style of play, as they currently play with a formation that doesn't allow space for wingers. However, Shearer may look to change this so that it accommodates him, or he may use him as a backup to Hatem Ben Arfa in the attacking midfielder role.
Rating: 7/10
Speedy striker, Gabriel Agbonlahor, 25, joined Newcastle for £8.25 million from league rivals Aston Villa, as they look to isolate Belgian striker Christian Benteke up front. Agbonlahor has 3 caps for England.
![]()
Viduka: I've watched Agbonlahor over the years at Villa and I think he'll be a good addition to the squad and with a possible strike partnership of Matri and Agbonlahor, Newcastle could score a few. Good buy.
Rating: 8/10
Finally, Italian center back, Davide Astori, 25, will join up with fellow Italians Davide Santon and Alessandro Matri, after joining Newcastle for £12.25 million from Italian side Cagliari. He has won 2 caps for Italy.
![]()
Viduka: I think he will become a great player for Newcastle and with Santon and Matri in the squad, he will have plenty of people to help him along at the club.
Rating: 9/10
Viduka: Join me during the January transfer window for more transfer reviews in 'Viduka's View'. Until then, goodbye.
