10 dumbest signings of the summer

Joselu – Newcastle

This is more of an indictment on Newcastle and owner Mike Ashley as a whole, even if Joselu is a serious head-scratcher.

Joselu began his career as a promising technical striker at Celta Vigo before Real Madrid purchased him in 2009. He spent two years on Madrid’s “B” team, scoring 40 goals in 72 appearances, but could not break into the first team due to their insane amount of talent, especially up front.

The striker bounced around in between a few clubs and on loan to others before Stoke signed him in 2015-16. He only scored four goals for the Potters before being loaned out again. He could hardly keep up with the physicality of the Premier League, and his old boss Mark Hughes found him surplus to requirements. Newcastle, for some reason, jumped at the opportunity.

Joselu will likely have a tough time again for this newly promoted side. He likely won’t get the service he needs, and unless he has adjusted to the nature of the Premier League, won’t be the answer up front. He has scored once already, but it’s doubtful that becomes a trend.

Mike Ashley is notoriously cheap and hated among Newcastle supporters. This transfer window is another glaringly obvious reason why. Newcastle only made five signings after their Championship-winning year, far less than fellow promotion sides Brighton and Huddersfield (who made 10 each).

The Magpies were eerily silent on deadline day, and that couldn’t have sat well with Rafa Benitez. Tensions were already high in Newcastle, and making signings like Joselu the club’s most prominent of the window will raise them more.