One of Tyneside’s great debates stems from a risk Kevin Keegan took in February 1996. With Newcastle United nine points clear in the Premier League title race, the messianic manager persuaded Sir John Hall to stump up £6.7million to sign Faustino Asprilla from Parma.
The Columbian arrived as a UEFA Cup winner and it was hoped he could cement the Magpies’ grip on the division and clinch a first league title in 70 years. However, Newcastle infamously crumbled and Manchester United were crowned champions just three months later.
Asprilla scored just three goals in 14 games as Keegan’s men capitulated. To this day, the 1995-96 campaign remains one of the top flight's most memorable.
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Even some Newcastle players from that era attribute the downfall to the Asprilla gamble. Disrupting a winning formula is always a dangerous move… and the Magpies learned the hard way.
"Prior to Tino arriving, we had Les Ferdinand and Peter Beardsley through the middle, myself on the right and David Ginola on the left," Keith Gillespie said in later years. "But I became the fall guy to accommodate Asprilla and Peter was moved to the right wing.
"The players became a bit miffed by the changes because they upset the whole way the team played. I'll always remember Rob Lee speaking to Kevin a few weeks later to ask him to put me back into the team because the players wanted to go back to the formation that had worked so well."
This is advice Toon chiefs should heed while considering potential transfer targets. Another marquee addition would be welcome but, as Eddie Howe has suggested, it must be the right man.
To an extent, Alexander Isak is already causing a healthy dilemma following his return from injury. The Swedish international settled for a place on the bench at Crystal Palace despite scoring a last-minute winner against Fulham one week earlier - highlighting the form Newcastle are in. A well-worked assist provided a simple finish to Joelinton in the first-leg win over Southampton to give Howe another glimpse of the 23-year-old talent at his disposal.
A hat-trick in a 3-2 Champions League triumph over Barcelona 18 months later etched Asprilla’s name into Geordie folklore. That night vindicated his transfer in the eyes of many supporters and, if any star player arrived this month, a poor end to the campaign would not necessarily hinder their future Toon career.
But Champions League football is within United’s grasp. It has been so far, so good for Newcastle on the post-takeover recruitment front.
Trusted scout Steve Nickson has not put a foot wrong since being granted a bottomless pit and adding Dan Ashworth’s arrival only improves the transfer task force on Tyneside. Between the pair, there is enough credit banked for fans to believe in their judgement and that an Asprilla-style debate will not take place in May.
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