Newcastle Reportedly Interested in Thomas Ince (Again)

Tom Ince has reportedly reemerged as a transfer target for Newcastle United, according to The Journal. The article, which is more speculation about the new management structure at the club than their apparent interest in the Blackpool midfielder, mentions that manager Alan Pardew and new Director of Football Joe Kinnear would like to see more goal-scoring options from the midfield in 2013-14.

Ince was previously mentioned as a potential target for Newcastle about a month ago, but various reports shortly indicated that the Toon would not be pursuing his services, which would reportedly set them back about £5 million. The rekindled interest appears to be a result of Kinnear's appointment, Ince presumably being a player that he has previously heard of.

Newcastle happen to have a plethora of attack-minded midfielders on their roster, and if early reports that money concerns would limit their player acquisitions to two or three are true, the pursuit of Ince makes little sense, as he would presumably have to compete with several others for regular consideration in Pardew's first XI. Still, he's an impressive prospect with established bloodlines that had a fantastic season last year, earning the Football League Young Player of the Year honor and finishing as a finalist for Player of the Year in the Championship, an award he could have won without too much argument. His finishing touch is complemented well by excellent vision and a willingness to distribute, and he's got pace for days. Skeptics will wonder if he can have the same level of influence for a team that his father isn't managing, which is pretty unfair.

Thomas Ince is a respectable player. It strikes me that in the aftermath of the public relations nightmare that has been the Kinnear appointment, Newcastle will want to redirect fans toward the hopes and dreams that make up the summer transfer window. Dredging up a name that got a positive (or at least not an overtly negative) response the first time around could be one way to divert attention away from the man (or three-headed beast) behind the curtain.

Or maybe I'm being cynical and Ince will sign for £20,000/week and cite the opportunity to work with a man who can call Sir Alex Ferguson any time he wants as his inspiration.