Jacob Ramsey is a player Newcastle United’s coaching team “loved” from afar.
Ramsey is athletic, versatile and hungry to get better – and it is not hard to envisage the 24-year-old developing further under Eddie Howe.
This will have been an emotional move for Ramsey, a boyhood Aston Villa fan who had been on the club’s books since the age of six.
But it felt instructive that the midfielder referenced the pull of working with Howe after completing his move to St James’ Park.
Anthony Gordon, Dan Burn, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento have all become full England internationals after an extended period working with Howe and his staff.
Do not rule out Ramsey following in the quartet’s footsteps.
Newcastle may be well-stocked in the middle of the park and out on the left, but it is not hard to envisage Ramsey playing his part given the depth the club will need to fight on four fronts this season.
It was a frustrating start to the window for Newcastle, but Howe has now brought in Ramsey, Anthony Elanga, Malick Thiaw and Aaron Ramsdale to increase competition in some key areas.
The one position that still needs to be addressed, though, is up front.
Newcastle already needed a goalscorer following Callum Wilson’s departure last month and it fell to Anthony Gordon to lead the line in Alexander Isak’s continued absence on the opening day.
Brentford star Yoane Wissa remains one to watch.
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