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Eddie Howe was stunned when Chelsea beat Newcastle to sign ‘special’ player last summer
Newcastle United’s 2024 summer transfer window was the most disappointing since the PIF takeover at St James’ Park.
Newcastle didn’t make a single major signing for a big fee in the summer, and they missed out on a number of key targets.
The Magpies tried to sign Marc Guehi, to no avail, while Newcastle also looked at Anthony Elanga late in the window.
Tosin Adarabioyo is another player Newcastle looked at signing earlier in the summer.
Despite Marco Silva calling him a ‘special’ player, via , Tosin left Fulham on a free at the end of last season, and, at one point, it looked like the defender would be on his way to Tyneside.
However, Tosin would ultimately sign for Chelsea, in a move that apparently left Eddie Howe shocked.
Eddie Howe shocked by Tosin Adarabioyo’s move to Chelsea
According to The Mail’s Sami Mokbel, speaking on The Fully Loaded Transfer Show, Eddie Howe was shocked by Tosin’s move to Chelsea.
The journalist claims that Howe actually had a face-to-face meeting with the defender about joining Newcastle, and he was surprised when the deal didn’t get done.
“My understanding of that situation was that Eddie actually spoke to Tosin face to face. And I think it was a really positive conversation.
“Everyone at Newcastle was shocked, including Eddie, when it emerged that he was flying back from Dubai into London to sign with Chelsea. Up until the very last minute Newcastle were always a very realistic option for Tosin,”
How is Tosin doing at Chelsea?
Tosin joined Chelsea in the summer, but things aren’t necessarily going well for the defender right now.
Chelsea staff members have apparently questioned why Tosin was signed, and the centre-half is struggling for minutes.
Adarabioyo has started just two league games for Chelsea so far this season, and he was substituted against Liverpool after just 53 minutes last time out.
Chelsea are current ahead of Newcastle in the league, so the defender’s move has been somewhat justified in that regard, but in terms of how much experience he is getting, Tosin may have been better off joining Newcastle.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 3 |  ArsenalArsenal | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 17 |
| 4 |  Aston VillaAston Villa | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 17 |
| 5 |  BrightonBrighton | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 15 |
| 6 |  ChelseaChelsea | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 14 |
| 7 |  TottenhamTottenham | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 13 |
| 8 |  Nottm ForestNottingham Forest | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 13 |
| 9 |  NewcastleNewcastle | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 12 |
Howe ultimately failed to sign a new right-sided centre-back after Newcastle’s lengthy pursuit of Marc Guehi, and that may be a situation the Magpies opt to revisit in January.
Who Newcastle ultimately end up going for in that position remains to be seen, but it must be frustrating for Eddie Howe for this issue to be persisting after coming so close to signing Tosin in the summer.