Jamie Carragher has been seriously impressed with one player since he called time on his Newcastle United career last year.
There has been quite the turnover of players at Newcastle United since the change of ownership, and that is set to continue as PIF aim to build a squad capable of challenging for Premier League and European titles.
Buying talented players is massively important, but moving others on is just as vital. In January, we saw Newcastle fail to strengthen their squad as they had not sold anyone, and that could be an issue again this summer amid the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
Player trading is crucial in the modern game, and it is something that Toon officials did very well last year.
Newcastle United did £15m deal last year
Newcastle let two key players leave St James’ Park during the January transfer window of 2023.
Jonjo Shelvey and Chris Wood both left the Magpies to sign for Nottingham Forest, but it is only the latter who is still having an impact at the City Ground.
While Shelvey’s move proved to be a disaster, Chris Wood has been a real success. He moved on loan initially, but the deal quickly became permanent for £15million.
And it has turned out to be £15million well spent, with Wood scoring the volume of goals that Newcastle had hoped he was going to get in black and white.
What Jamie Carragher has said about Chris Wood
The New Zealand international was an important team player at St James’ Park, but the goals did not quite flow.
They have at Forest, however, and Jamie Carragher has hailed the 32-year-old during Sky Sports‘ coverage of Everton 2 Nottingham Forest 0.
“Chris Wood, he has been a revelation since he came here from Newcastle,” he said.
“He found it tough at Newcastle, but he has been fantastic for Forest since he came in.”
Stats back up Chris Wood claim
Wood truly has been excellent at Forest, despite enduring a slow start in garibaldi red. He has got 12 Premier League goals this season, including a hat-trick against Newcastle back in December.
In contrast, Wood only managed five goals during his entire year with the Magpies.
Not only is Wood scoring more goals for Forest, he is also scoring them at a much quicker rate. In fact, he has one of the best goals per minute ratios in the Premier League, excluding penalties.
The former Burnley man is averaging a non-penalty goal in the Premier League every 135 minutes, which is only bettered by Erling Haaland and Diogo Jota.
Newcastle benefitted from Nottingham Forest transfer too
Wood really has been a revelation in a Forest shirt, but Newcastle will be happy with their decision to sell him.
To get £15million for him was a good bit of business, meaning only a £10million loss was made. When you consider what he contributed in black and white, that is certainly money well spent.
While he was not prolific at Newcastle, he was incredibly reliable. He was a focal point as the Magpies avoided relegation, and his style of play allowed those around him to thrive.
And while he has scored a lot of goals since leaving St James’ Park, it was the right time to let him go.
The move has benefitted everyone involved, which is a rarity in football nowadays.
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