Mbappe plus Kane for Newcastle won’t change anything-Merson

What would change if re-launched and re-branded Newcastle swoop on Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane? Nothing says Pundit and former football manager Paul Merson.

Merson told Sky Sports: “If they went and signed Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane tomorrow, not a lot would change. They’re not going to start winning football matches because they can’t defend, and the midfield don’t create much. It doesn’t matter who is up front!

“You have to start from the back, make them solid, but Newcastle fans want entertaining football.

“Frank Lampard did brilliantly at Chelsea, and brought the kids through. He had a major part to play in the success they’ve had since he left. He gave youth a chance, but all of a sudden, when he had to go and sign £70m players, it was a different story.

“It needs to be intelligent signings, not just gung-ho. With Manchester City’s success, there was a lot of good scouting along the way. It was not always a case of: ‘Buy him, buy him and him.’

“The manager will play a big part in what players want to sign for Newcastle, because nowadays, everybody pays the big money for players. It’s a level playing field.”

A consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) bought the club in a £300million deal last week after Premier League approval was finally granted.

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The Magpies’ new-found financial muscle is eventually likely to pose a threat to the league’s established ‘Big Six’ but Merson doubts bringing a couple of big attacking threats would make any difference to Newcastle’s fortunes this season.

Newcastle are 19th in the standings as the league prepares to resume this weekend following the international break.

They have been linked with numerous players ahead of the January transfer window when they are expected to flex their muscle but Merson has urged the club to make “intelligent signings”.