What started out as a slow-moving transfer window for Newcastle United ended on a very positive note, and Eddie Howe will no doubt feel the signings his club made in January have addressed some of the desperate issues facing his squad.
Bruno Guimaraes’ big-money arrival from Lyon was no doubt the highlight, with reports suggesting that fellow Premier League side Arsenal were interested in his services.
But, while the Brazilian could be a big player for the future for the Magpies, it might be Dan Burn’s signature from Brighton that really makes the difference for the Tyneside club this season.
With the second-worst defensive record in the Premier League this year with 43 goals conceded, Newcastle were in bad need of a really dominant defender, and while Burn has predominantly played at left-back for the Seagulls this campaign, he would surely be much more of an influence by returning to the heart of defence.
The 6 foot 7 defender himself said: “I’ve enjoyed centre-back. When I was playing left-back or wing-back I was enjoying it. It wasn’t my natural position, there were some things I was limited on going forward. Now playing centre-half again I’ve realised how much I’ve missed playing there. I’ve always known I could play centre-half at this level. I’m proving to people that I can do it now.”
As per Whoscored, Burn’s average of 1.7 tackles and 1.8 interceptions per game in the Premier League this season is far better than that of any Newcastle centre-back, while only Jamal Lascelles has won more aerial duels than him.
Indeed, some analysis done by The Athletic revealed: “Burn’s aerial presence could be a real advantage at both ends of the pitch. When accounting for the strength of the opponent faced in an aerial battle, you can see below how he comes out a lot stronger than Diego Carlos — he is certainly used to the style of the Premier League.”
It’s no surprise then that his former boss at the Seagulls, Graham Potter, is a big fan of the defender, dubbing him as “incredible” and saying: “Anyone that criticises someone like Dan Burn doesn’t understand football, ultimately. I wouldn’t listen to them. It’s irrelevant to me. Dan just gives his best every day.
“He’s playing at the highest level. He’s a fantastic example of what a top athlete should be in terms of it’s not going to go well every day but he recovers, he fights; he fights for the team. He’s everything you’d want from a professional footballer, so just let the ‘experts’ talk.”
As well as that much-needed Premier League experience, Burn appears to be the right kind of person mentality-wise, which is exactly what Newcastle will need in a relegation scrap.
So while Bruno’s signing is the one that might have got Magpies fans very excited, it’s Burn who could make the real season-defining impact given that he’s much more likely to hit the ground running.
Meanwhile, Newcastle are now set to make this decision…