---
title: "Newcastle: Transfer strategy aimed at 3-5-2 formation"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-transfer-strategy-aimed-at-3-5-2-formation/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Newcastle United"
published: "2021-08-02T14:15:30Z"
modified: "2021-08-02T14:15:30Z"
---

# Newcastle: Transfer strategy aimed at 3-5-2 formation

**Newcastle United are targeting players who will thrive in a 3-5-2 formation, according to [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/2742105/2021/07/31/after-contract-confession-are-we-now-seeing-bruces-way-for-newcastle-to-play/?source=emp-shared-article)‘s Chris Waugh.**

### The lowdown

The Magpies are hoping to assemble a squad that will steer them well clear of a relegation battle this season.

They wound up finishing 12th, but as late as 20th March, they were only two points above the drop zone (via [BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56383511)).

Steve Bruce wants to bring [at least three players](https://theathletic.com/2742105/2021/07/31/after-contract-confession-are-we-now-seeing-bruces-way-for-newcastle-to-play/?source=emp-shared-article) but Newcastle are [the only Premier League club](https://theathletic.com/2742105/2021/07/31/after-contract-confession-are-we-now-seeing-bruces-way-for-newcastle-to-play/?source=emp-shared-article) yet to make a signing with the start of the 2021/22 campaign less than a fortnight away.

Mike Ashley has furnished him with limited funds [as he attempts to force through](https://theathletic.com/2742105/2021/07/31/after-contract-confession-are-we-now-seeing-bruces-way-for-newcastle-to-play/?source=emp-shared-article) the prospective takeover from a Saudi-led consortium.

Newcastle used a back three with wing backs and three central midfielders [on 13 occasions](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/23/Show/England-Newcastle-United) last season, but Bruce also deployed his players in 4-4-2 (eight times), 5-4-1 (six times) and 4-3-1-2 (five times).

### The latest

Waugh reports that Bruce is ‘committed’ to the three-at-the-back shape and that the club’s [‘transfer targets are primed to play in that way’](https://twitter.com/ChrisDHWaugh/status/1421804526403792898).

However, ‘some sources fear’ that the manager could change systems if Newcastle encounter a ‘tricky patch’, which could hinder their new arrivals.

### The verdict

Which reported targets does the 3-5-2 lend itself to? One that springs to mind is [Manchester United’s Axel Tuanzebe](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2021/07/26/newcastle-pushing-sign-axel-tuanzebe-manchester-united/), who produced surely the finest performance of his career on the right side of a back three away to Paris Saint-Germain last season. He dealt assuredly with the unique threat of Kylian Mbappe.

Tuanzebe [‘looks set’](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2021/07/26/newcastle-pushing-sign-axel-tuanzebe-manchester-united/) to leave the club following the signing of Raphael Varane, and he’s valued at £7.2million by [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/axel-tuanzebe/profil/spieler/342046). It looks an eminently sensible deal for Newcastle to do.

**In other news, [Mark Douglas dropped this intriguing information about Newcastle’s takeover case](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/takeover-news-cat-premier-league-2/).**