The summer window hasn’t officially opened yet, but it’s been widely reported that Newcastle United have been focusing on four key areas.
A centre-back, right winger, goalkeeper and striker are wanted and needed, but it appears as though more could arrive for the purposes of squad depth.
Next season, we have the demands of Champions League football and two domestic cups, along with another Premier League campaign where a top-four finish will be on the agenda once again.
However, we all know how injuries and fatigue impacted our last European venture, so it’s vital we not only add quality and numbers to our side this summer.
Midfielder wanted with exit likely
The Telegraph report that Newcastle United could bring in another midfielder to bolster Eddie Howe’s squad this summer.
As things stand, Eddie Howe has six midfield options in Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Joe Willock, Lewis Miley and Sean Longstaff.
However, Luke Edwards reports that local lad Longstaff is ‘expected to leave’ over the coming months, opening the door for another addition to our engine room.
Longstaff has been linked to Everton, Leeds and Man Utd over the past few months, with reports suggesting £10m may be enough to land the 27-year-old now he’s entering the final 12 months of his contract.
Who could Newcastle target?
A few names have been loosely linked, whether that’s no 8s able to play in the roles Bruno and Joelinton currently take up, or holding midfielders to add depth in Tonali’s deep-lying no 6 role.
Genk’s Ibrahima Sory Bangoura, 21, has been linked as a potential gem from Belgium, while Coventry’s Jack Rudoni has also been watched, according to The Mail’s Craig Hope.
The i Paper have covered our long term interest in Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey, while reports in Italy suggest Douglas Luiz may be an option after a mixed first season with Juventus.
Either way, it currently feels like there is a big drop off from Tonali to Longstaff or Joelinton to Willock, making a new midfielder preferable if we wish to head into 2025/26 robust enough to compete on four fronts.
Personally I’d sell Longstaff, Willock, Targett. If we can rake in a little money (£20m?) from those three we should be able to put it towards a decent midfielder.
Flyingmag(Quote)
I think Longstaff as a player can be upgraded – and I mean no disrespect there coz I don’t dislike him.
But as a player in the dressing room he seems to gel the squad – and I think that’s so important.
Our success is built on the togetherness of the squad imo.
I get we can’t and shouldn’t keep players who aren’t going to take the club forward – but if Sean can accept being a back up player, then there is a lot of other players I’d shift before him.
But if he wanted more than that, I could see him being a key player for a Leeds or Everton for example.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Definitely need back up for Joelinton with his recurring niggles and injuries .. willok needs to go longstaff I would keep and use miley more often
Mike(Quote)
Goalkeeper Keller is a good keeper,dump Willock Targett and Longstaff sorry geordie lad ,cmon get at least 3 incoming
Mike(Quote)
A 4th really top quality midfielder would pay dividends during our strenuous season (and, almost certainly, seasons) ahead, a midfielder so good that he would not be a weakness when one of the top three become unavailable/lose form (which is 100% guaranteed certain to happen). There are a few in the EPL we already know about, but mega £££s would be needed.
We won’t win anything with Willock/Longstaff, and as for Miley, it doesn’t seem as though Eddie thinks he’s ready yet at that rarefied level (which is what I personally believe, too: still one for the future).
davewallace(Quote)