The summer transfer window for Newcastle United was one of the most frantic in recent memory, as numerous key squad members departed St James’ Park.

Talents such as Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimarães and Anthony Gordon departed for pastures new, whilst manager Eddie Howe also left Tyneside ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

As a result, Matthias Jaissle has been left to pick up the pieces over recent months, subsequently overseeing a huge overhaul of the senior ranks - with all the additions aged 24 or under.

It’s clear the Magpies are entering a new era after the subsequent dealings, but the club appear to have made the wrong call in not accepting an offer for Jacob Murphy this summer.

Why Newcastle made the wrong call keeping Jacob Murphy

Newcastle’s success in recent years was down to the impact of numerous talents, with Murphy playing a vital role in the club’s transition to consistent European contenders.

However, the Magpies have outgrown the 31-year-old in recent seasons, as seen by his measly tally of just three goals and two assists in the Premier League last campaign.

With just a year left on his deal, Nottingham Forest made a £15m offer for the attacker during the recent window, but such a bid was rejected with Jaissle wanting to keep hold of the winger.

Such a window was arguably the last opportunity to make a profit on the Englishman, but the chance to do so has now passed them by, and he could well leave on a free next summer.

Murphy has since featured in the club’s latest Carabao Cup clash with Millwall, but his performance highlighted why the hierarchy should have overruled the boss and cashed in.

The experienced attacker featured for 66 minutes of the encounter at The Den, but he could only complete 10% of the 10 crosses he attempted on Tuesday evening.

The Englishman also lost possession on 14 separate occasions, with the forward showcasing how wasteful he is with the ball within the attacking third of the pitch.

Newcastle have another Murphy-like problem

After a disappointing campaign last term, which ultimately led to Howe’s departure, the Newcastle hierarchy will be hoping that Jaissle can transform the fortunes of the senior ranks.

However, given the age of the new arrivals this summer, they will likely need time to settle into life in the Premier League before they can be successful and reach the levels expected.

Added departures will be needed in the windows ahead to trim some of the deadwood in the squad and allow for further investments to strengthen the Magpies’ chances of success.

Midfielder Joe Willock is a player who has been on the fringes over recent seasons, but has been handed a second chance to impress on Tyneside by Jaissle.

The 27-year-old, who was the subject of offers from Turkey this summer, has started two of the Magpies’ three league games to date - even scoring off the bench against Liverpool.

The Englishman was also chosen to start the Carabao Cup clash with Millwall on Tuesday night, subsequently scoring the winner late on to send the side into the fourth round.

However, despite his late strike, his performance has not filled supporters with confidence over his future - which should see the hierarchy cash in on his services in the near future.

Long gone, so it would seem, are those days when Willock fires home eight goals in 14 matches on loan at Newcastle before his £20m move.

It was a remarkable run of form, with Kevin Campbell notably suggesting he had earned "God-like status" at the Toon for his performances. Well, his displays in recent times certainly haven't suggested that.

This is a player who will score goals - he has two this term - yet like Murphy, he's simply too inconsistent, too sloppy with his overall play. Like Murphy, he really should have been moved on over the summer but Jaissle and the player thought better off it.

His stats from the encounter with Millwall showcases the very struggles were talking about, and worringly so, they are at both ends of the pitch.

Without the ball, the 27-year-old was very ineffective, which saw the Championship opposition dribble past the midfielder on two separate occasions.

He also lost 48% of the ground duels he entered during the contest, as Willock often came out second best when trying to disrupt the host’s progress with the ball.

Even in possession, the former Arsenal man struggled to make the difference in forward positions, subsequently losing the ball on nine occasions.

There’s no denying Jaissle currently has multiple midfield talents who should be ahead of Willock within the pecking order, with the Englishman a player who shouldn’t be a regular starter.

The 27-year-old should have been sold when the chance arose during the summer window, with the recent market arguably the last chance to recoup as much of his transfer fee as possible.