The 2024-25 season will be one that lives long in the memory for fans of Newcastle United. The Magpies ended their long wait for domestic cup glory with a memorable success at Wembley at Liverpool, and they ended the Premier League campaign inside the Champions League spots.
Qualification for Europe’s main competition will serve as a massive plus for Eddie Howe’s side, both when it comes to signing players to improve the squad and also keeping hold of many of their shining lights, who may have looked for a move elsewhere if Champions League qualification wasn’t assured.
Still, this summer presents a huge period for the Magpies, as they will be aiming to fine tune their squad ahead of a return to Europe. But, which areas of the field will Howe look to improve this summer?
Goalkeeper
Newcastle have enjoyed excellent defensive records season-on-season since Howe’s first full campaign at St. James’ Park, with much of their success being down to the performances of Nick Pope. That was evident once again in 2024-25, with only five teams conceding fewer goals.
However, Pope will be 35 by the end of next season, meaning this summer will be the perfect opportunity to find a long-term replacement. Burnley’s James Trafford is regarded as the top target for the club, with no goalkeeper in the second tier keeping more clean sheets than the 22-year-old in 2024-25.
Trafford enjoyed an excellent campaign for the Clarets, averaging a save percentage of 84.6%. But, a deal for the England U21 EURO winner may be expensive, with Burnley demanding £40 million for the shot stopper.
Another goalie would position Newcastle in a more favorable place in the odds for Champions League according to sportsbooks not on gamstop.
Right Winger
Newcastle’s scoring ability last season was unquestionable, but there attacking play was largely lop-sided, with the vast majority of their attacks coming down the left win.
A right winger has been on the agenda for the Magpies for the last couple of years, despite the impressive performances of Jacob Murphy. Newcastle already appear to have missed out on their top choice, with Bryan Mbeumo appearing likely to move to Man United this summer.
But, Howe will still be keen to add to his options in that area of the field. Dejan Kulusevski has been linked with a move to the North East, but it remains unclear how willing the Swede would be to force a move away from Tottenham.
Antoine Semenyo is another option that the club have followed, with the 25-year-old enjoying an excellent 2024-25 campaign with Bournemouth after netting eleven and registering five assists in 37 league appearances. But, the Magpies could face competition for Semenyo’s signature with both Man United and Tottenham also showing an interest.
Striker
Achieving Champions League qualification for Newcastle was huge in their fight to keep hold of Alexander Isak. Without European football, it’s likely that the Magpies would have faced the prospect of losing their best player this summer. Isak’s influence on the team is massive, and he enjoyed his best scoring campaign to date in 2024-25 after registering 23 efforts in 34 games.
However, Callum Wilson’s departure leaves Newcastle light in the number nine position, and a move for a back-up option to Isak will rank high on the agenda for Howe and his team this summer. An affordable option will likely appeal, as bigger money could then be spent in more troublesome areas of the field.
Joao Pedro is an expensive option that the club have monitored, and it has been reported that Brighton are open to selling the striker after his 16-goal involvement campaign last term. A free option could come in the form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who’s stay at Everton ended with another injury-plagued campaign last season.
Central Midfield
It could be argued that few teams boast a better midfield three than Newcastle when Sandro Tonali, Joelinton, and Bruno Guimaraes are all fully fit. However, there is a drop off in the quality in the middle of the field once the Magpies are missing one of their guaranteed starters.
Players such as Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock are fine rotation players for domestic competitions, but they are below the standard required for the Champions League. Therefore, it is likely that Newcastle will bring in a fresh midfielder this summer to create competition for places.
A combative style of midfielder will be required to suit Newcastle’s style of play, and there could be few better options on the market than Douglas Luiz. Juventus are looking to cash in on the former Aston Villa star this summer, as the Brazilian has failed to acclimatise to life in Serie A.
Luiz was one of most highly regarded midfielders in the Premier League during his time in the West Midlands, and a return to England could spark a revival of form. A more youthful option could come in the form of Dutch playmaker Sam Steijn, who scored 27 goals in 35 Eredivisie matches for Twente in 2024-25.
