Newcastle United’s desperate efforts in the winter transfer window were summed up by their Deadline Day decision to allow DeAndre Yedlin to join Galatasaray for free.

What’s the word?

According to Chronicle Live (1/2, 17:46), a spokesperson talking on behalf of the Super Lig giants confirmed that Newcastle allowed the United States international to join Galatasaray free of charge.

Yedlin finalised his move to the Turk Telekom Stadium on Monday after flying into Istanbul for his medical and signed a €2.5m (£2m), three-year contract with Fatih Terim’s side.

The deal struck for the defender’s departure is thought to include a future sell-on clause (Chronicle Live, 1/2, 21:19), with Yedlin only 27 and having six-months remaining on his Newcastle contract.

Yedlin, who joined the Magpies from Tottenham Hotspur in 2016, had opted to pursue a future away from Tyneside after failing to reach an agreement to extend his contract, after recently confirming that United had not discussed a new deal with him or his agent.

Steve Bruce had fielded the £4.5m-rated dynamo in six Premier League fixtures this season, starting five, but he had not featured since a 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United on January 12th after reported issues with his visa.

Yedlin joining Galatasaray freed up a place in the Toon’s 25-man Premier League squad for the arrival of Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock on loan later on Deadline Day.

Desperation by Newcastle

The impact of the pandemic hit almost every club in the world and the effect of Brexit further played its role in a quiet winter market for Premier League sides, with just £84m spent on deals with disclosed fees.

Of those transfers, just 12 were permanent, as clubs looked to the loan market for their mid-season reinforcements. Newcastle were among that group, with Willock’s temporary switch from north London to the North East marking United’s only arrival of the window.

An inability and refusal to part with players from Bruce and the Magpies hierarchy also meant Yedlin joined Rolando Aarons in being the only players to depart Tyneside, despite Matty Longstaff being offered a loan spell with Watford.

But Longstaff did not have to leave for Newcastle to sign Willock on loan, as the midfielder does not occupy a place in Bruce’s 25-man Premier League squad. Though Yedlin would have, had the defender not joined Galatasaray.

And it is that situation that left the Toon feeling the pinch and desperate to seal a deal, and suggests why they were open to letting Yedlin join Cimbom for only the promise of a percentage of any future fee the Super Lig giants may potentially earn.

In any other window, Newcastle could have held out and demanded a fee for a 27-year-old that had made 125 appearances for the club, helped secure the 2016/17 Championship title and play a key role in finishing the following season 10th in the Premier League table.

But 2020 was no ordinary year, and the start of 2021 has followed on the same lines. And in Bruce’s desperation to strengthen his midfield, he accepted that United could not stand in Yedlin’s way.

AND in other news, Newcastle United faced late enquiries over a £15m deal to sell a Steve Bruce outcast…