The Chronicle have reported that the Magpies have been offered the Ireland international on a free transfer.
Poor
We’ve gone from a situation where Newcastle were being linked with outrageous names like Gareth Bale, Philippe Coutinho and star managers like Mauricio Pochettino.
After Saudi Arabia’s proposed takeover of the side was withdrawn, the Magpies have been brought back to earth with a bump and normal service has resumed under Mike Ashley.
Ambition
The London owner wants to sell the club, and was never the most generous at the best of times. He’s allowed this great club to drift and rot and become stale, and it’s no surprise that the first post-Saudi move is for a man who was just released by Burnley.
To be fair to Jeff Hendrick, that doesn’t tell the whole story. He was a vital player for Sean Dyche over the last four years and was even wanted by AC Milan - said the Chronicle. But this isn’t the type of move to get disenfranchised fans on side.
Stocked
However, his central midfield role could come with its own problems. Newcastle are lacking in a great many things, central midfielders is not one of them. They are stocked in that area and can call on Jonjo Shelvey, Isaac Hayden, Sean Longstaff and Dan Barlasar. Where would Hendrick fit with all of this?
At 28-years-old, he doesn’t really fit the modus operandi of Ashley either. He prefers to sign younger players who can be sold on for a profit - ideally a big one - so that he doesn’t need to invest any money in St. James’ Park.
Right now this seems like the best the Geordies are going to get while they have an owner who doesn’t want to be here and doesn’t want to invest money. Get used to fishing in the loan and free pond, because without Saudi money that’s the best it’s going to get.