These are anxious times on Tyneside.
Newcastle United are too close to the relegation zone for anyone’s liking, debate rages among a fractured fanbase on Eddie Howe’s future and the prospect of big players being sold is the backdrop for a two-day meeting off-site which will be overseen by club chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan this week. A fanbase holds its breath.
Not everyone, though, is feeling pessimistic. If Newcastle’s big failing last summer was recruitment – they bought badly, panicked at missing on first-choice targets and ended up signing players on instinct, according to one source who witnessed the mistakes stacking up – there is quiet confidence that they have addressed those issues under the stewardship of sporting director Ross Wilson.
Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan will arrive in the UK this week (Photo: Getty)A recruitment pivot seems to be underway, with the club ready to lean into European and South American scouting networks that have been beefed up in the last nine months. Combined with more and smarter use of data, Newcastle believe they are well-placed to learn from errors made in 2025 that have set the club’s progress back significantly.
Fans might be reserving judgement on a director of football yet to oversee one first team signing but insiders speak well of Wilson. He has bought energy and – most importantly – alignment to Newcastle. His relationship with Howe means there is buy-in from every department in what the club are doing, which wasn’t necessarily the case under the outspoken Paul Mitchell, who first attempted to overhaul transfer processes at St James’ Park at the start of last season.
Key target markets revealed
It is understood Newcastle’s planning has stepped up in recent weeks, with a much larger pool of targets than in previous years.
Among the lists being prepared are: market opportunities (including free agents and players with little-known or time-sensitive release clauses), up-and-coming talent from European markets, “Premier League proven” and off-the-radar targets seen as having untapped potential.
How many players come in is a moveable feast, with some insiders bristling at talk of a complete overhaul. The general principle given new squad cost ratio (SCR) rules is that Newcastle will need to operate to a “one in, one out” policy, so sales will be required, not just to free up “squad cost” space but also to provide financial wriggle room for other players.
Who is out, and coming in?
Yoane Wissa has been deemed surplus to requirements at St James’ Park (Photo: Getty)That is why the Magpies will not be afraid to listen to offers for Yoane Wissa.
While there is some interest, the general feeling is his value has dropped to around £15-20m after they paid Brentford £55m for him last summer.
What is clear is that as well as replacing Kieran Trippier at right-back, finding a goalkeeper to improve on the underwhelming Aaron Ramsdale and bringing in a younger centre-back to likely replace Fabian Schar, Newcastle want a striker.
Intriguingly The i Paper understands that another of Newcastle’s priorities is finding a specialist No 6, a move that suggests they may be preparing for a stylistic evolution this summer.
The club have had previous interest in Atalanta midfielder Ederson, who is also on Manchester United’s long-list.
Elliot Anderson is expected to move to Manchester City this summer (Photo: Getty)A hail Mary move for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson isn’t completely off the agenda but it would depend on sales and senior sources have counselled that “the days of making £100m signings and keeping them until the disposal of their contract” are over.
There is a belief that Anderson, who Newcastle had to sell to comply with financial fair play rules in 2024, will move to Manchester City before the World Cup.
Newcastle retain interest in James Trafford, who is keen to find regular first-team football away from the Etihad this summer, but 21-year-old Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser (viewed as a future France No 1) is also high on their list. As first revealed by The i Paper, Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen is another option.
Outgoings? Newcastle expect there to be interest in Anthony Gordon but will demand closer to £80m than the £55m Bayern Munich are believed to value him at.
“The club can’t be afraid of selling players,” one senior source says. “It’s something we’ve got to get away from. This will be part of the future.”
Sandro Tonali’s future will depend on interest but captain Bruno Guimaraes, a frustrated bystander during recent troubles, is expected to be central to the rebuild.
Will Howe survive?
The elephant in the room is Howe’s job status.
There is a perception that the Newcastle manager would prefer safer options whose CV includes experience in either the Premier League or a top five European league and while those close to him say that is not true, it is valid to ask if he will feel comfortable moulding a new team with a chunk of untried players picked for their potential.
It is not where Newcastle went last year and the issues £69m record signing Nick Woltemade has had in his first year mean the Magpies might be behind the eight ball when it comes to selling the club to some players. Their sales pitch needs to be spot on.
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Mark Douglas: Inside Brentford’s unlikely charge for the Champions League Mark Douglas: How committed Saudi Arabia is to Newcastle, according to PIF and club insidersBut it is worth pointing out that all of the player identification is being done for a Howe team, albeit one that will look different to this year’s tired, stale side.
This week’s Matfen Hall summit, where a large delegation from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is attending to thrash out the club’s future, could be crucial for his future. There is no “free pass” for Howe and his paymasters want to see him brimming with ideas and solutions but it is difficult to discern any real desire for change.
“The certainty around his future is his contract,” one insider says.
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