Eddie Howe is safe as Newcastle United manager but insiders acknowledge that there needs to be change in the summer to avoid another season of struggle.
Faced with the choice of ripping things up and starting again under a new boss or rebuilding with Howe in charge, the message at the moment is that they will opt to do the latter.
But there is also acknowledgement that the season has fallen below the standards the club have set for themselves with Newcastle languishing in 12th and now having been beaten by rivals Sunderland twice in three months.
Newcastle lost 2-1 to Sunderland at St James’ Park on Sunday (Photo: Getty)Howe fronted up to angry supporters in an excruciating lap of appreciation in the aftermath of Sunday’s derby defeat and accepted his own role in a bad week for the club.
That accountability has been noted in the boardroom as the manager continues to shield under-performing players from the lion’s share of the criticism.
Howe holds talks with Newcastle over his future
Newcastle’s players were given the day off on Monday and the club’s hierarchy held supportive calls with Howe, who cut a crestfallen figure after the final whistle.
The Magpies do not play again for nearly three weeks, which will test the belief inside the club that they are better when they get time on the grass to prepare and strategise.
Howe is known to be deeply introspective after setbacks and over the course of this season there have been plenty of brutally honest debriefs with director of football Ross Wilson and chief executive David Hopkinson.
There is still unity among those three key figures but plans to change course on recruitment in the close season feel more important than ever.
Magpies prepare for potential summer exodus
Newcastle right-back Tino Livramento is attracting plenty of interest (Photo: Getty)While sources bristle at talk of a complete rebuild, Newcastle are preparing for up to five or six players who are part of the first-team group to depart this summer.
Out-of-contract veterans Fabian Schar and Kieran Trippier are set to leave while Aaron Ramsdale will not be signed on a permanent basis. Joe Willock, who did not impress as a substitute on Sunday, is also available.
In addition to that the future of several crown jewels is also uncertain, with Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali linked with moves away.
England international Tino Livramento, who has struggled since returning from injury, also has admirers.
Newcastle intend to be front foot on those questions and have apparently learned from their reactive stance on Alexander Isak.
A change in transfer strategy
Summer signing Nick Woltemade has failed to live up to expectations (Photo: Getty)The plan is to lean into European markets for players who can grow with Newcastle rather than rely on supposedly tried-and-trusted Premier League performers who come with a premium, drop the average age of the squad and build a new group.
Parsimony in January means they have ample space under financial rules to spend.
No-one is saying it outright but all of this depends on Howe evolving, too.
While some of the criticism of the manager feels too vitriolic, there is no doubt that questions around whether he can develop a new way of playing are justified.
Nick Woltemade has been converted, unsuccessfully, into a midfielder rather than change the system to suit his strengths. The issues that have been there since August have recurred at an alarming rate.
Externally among Premier League rivals, there is some puzzlement at the model and chain of command at Newcastle.
As difficult as it was with no senior executives to run the show, it is not true to say he has not been backed.
Few managers have the chance to impact recruitment to the extent that Howe had last summer and the fate of their two big striker signings illustrate that things did not go well.
He is five years into his tenure now and Newcastle believe this is a crossroads rather than the end of the road.
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