Gossip: Juventus not convinced by Woltemade published at 07:09 BST
07:09 BST
Juventus have doubts over 24-year-old Germany striker Nick Woltemade, who is on loan at the club from Newcastle United, and are looking at alternatives, including 25-year-old Monaco and United States forward Folarin Balogun. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external
Meanwhile, Newcastle and Everton are both keen on Galatasaray midfielder Gabriel Sara. The 27-year-old Brazil midfielder spent two years with Norwich City before moving to Turkey. (Webaslan), external
How similar will the table look at the end of the season?published at 07:00 BST
07:00 BST
Chris Collinson BBC Sport statistician
Just five games in, it might seem a bit early to pay much attention to the Premier League table - but it's probably more settled than you think.
If we look at the Premier League after five games last season and where teams ultimately ended up, the final table was already starting to take shape as 13 of the 20 sides finished within four places of where they sat even at this early stage (65%).
Eventual champions Arsenal were second, Sunderland were already seventh - where they finished eight months later - and two of the three sides that were relegated were already in the bottom three.
The eventual champions have been in the top two at this point in the past four campaigns, suggesting - potential punishments aside - it will be Manchester City or Arsenal that lifts the trophy.
The top end of the table overall has sometimes settled surprisingly quickly in recent years. The top eight after five games in 2024-25 finished as the top eight at the end of that season (although not in the same order), while the top six in 2019-20 and top seven in 2016-17 were also in place at this early stage.
While being top after five games has not meant much in recent seasons, being bottom certainly has.
Tottenham could well be in trouble once again as the side bottom of the Premier League after five games has been relegated in six of the past seven seasons.
Being bottom this early did not used to be such a bad omen. Between 2013-14 and 2018-19, only one of the six sides that were propping up the table after five games ended up going down - Newcastle in 2015-16 - while Crystal Palace finished as high as 11th in 2017-18.
Looking at the relegation battle more broadly, at least one of the teams in the bottom three at this stage has been relegated in the past eight seasons - so one of Tottenham, Fulham and Coventry City are very likely to be heading to the Championship in May.
The pool of contestants for this season's relegation battle may already be decided too because the three sides that ultimately went down in the past three seasons were all in the bottom six after five games, which would add Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace to the mix.
The last sides to be outside the bottom six at this point but relegated were Leeds United and Southampton in 2022-23, who were both in the top half (seventh and ninth). With their teams currently in eighth and 11th place, Hull City and Ipswich Town fans will hope that is still the case at the end of this campaign.
While the season may well have barely begun, the Premier League table is already starting to take shape.
Jaissle on team fitness, 'leader' Joelinton and Coventrypublished at 15:25 BST 8 October
15:25 BST 8 October
Katie Stafford BBC Sport journalist
Media caption,
Newcastle United boss Matthias Jaissle has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game against Coventry City at CBS Arena (kick-off 20:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen will be out for two months after sustaining a hamstring injury on international duty for France Under-21s.
Jaissle confirmed all internationals will return to training on Friday as he "allowed some of them an extra day" of recovery on Thursday.
He is hopeful "three or four" of the nine players that missed the match against Hull City "are ready to be in the squad" on Monday. He added: "It's helpful, but we need to be smart with load management. Potential to be in the squad but not start."
On the long break: "Unusual long break, but we are all happy. We used the time and it worked in our favour when it came to the injury situations."
He had high praise for Joelinton, who is nearing a return, and said the midfielder "is a leader" who "has qualities on the ball and out of possession". Jaissle added: "We need warriors in the team. We are really happy to have him back training with us."
On Matias Fernandez-Pardo's development: "He has everything to be a top striker. He's technically gifted. I'm 100% sure that he will have a bright future with us. We need to give him time. We need to be patient with him. From us, he's totally getting that. We support him and then you will see that we will get many, many great performances back."
Jaissle said he is "finally settled" in Newcastle after moving into his apartment during the break.
On opponents Coventry: "Every team is capable of winning against every opponent. Coventry have the momentum, as they won their last match, and confidence. They also have quality and a clear playing style. If we perform at our best, then it will be difficult to beat us. We want to make it as difficult for them as possible." He added that Sky Blues head coach Frank Lampard "is a pure legend" and one of the players he looked up to.
In response to Manchester City's guilty verdict: "As a manager of another club, I am not able to judge and it's not in my job description to judge. The authorities are taking care of it and there's a clear process."
Gossip: Newcastle favourites to sign Morton from Lyonpublished at 06:39 BST 8 October
06:39 BST 8 October
Newcastle United are favourites to beat Nottingham Forest to the signing of Lyon midfielder Tyler Morton. The 23-year-old is impressing in France after leaving Liverpool last year. (Football Insider), external
BBC Radio Newcastle has been looking back at some of the key names who have defined the takeover era so far, with former boss Eddie Howe coming out top.
When the takeover happened, there were all sorts of rumours of high profile managers taking charge at St. James' Park.
Steve Bruce remained for a few games, but it was quite clear he wasn't going to last, but who would replace him? Zinedine Zidane, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte were all linked with the job.
In hindsight, Howe was the perfect man for the job at the time.
Considering spending restraints and all, there aren't many managers who could have saved Newcastle from relegation, secured Champions League football and won a domestic trophy.
Those celebrations on the streets of the city up to Town Moor after the League Cup were seismic, and whether it was convincing stars like Kieran Trippier to join the club or developing players like Joelinton, Eddie Howe was the leader who delivered it all.
The end of his tenure might have come with some sections of the fanbase turning on Howe, but I think even his biggest critic will celebrate his reign as one of, if not the most successful in the club's modern history.
I think even his departure tells a tale that defines the era. He simply gave his all until he couldn't give any more. He didn't turn on the club or lash out at the hierarchy, he just slipped away very quietly and let the club move on to its new era.
Find out who were chosen as the other defining names of the past five years by hitting play above or on BBC Sounds here
Gossip: Bayern monitering Pope's futurepublished at 08:02 BST 7 October
08:02 BST 7 October
Ajax's Dutch defender Aaron Bouwman, 19, is on a list of young players Newcastle are monitoring before the next two transfer windows. (Newcastle Chronicle), external
Bayern are monitoring Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope as the 34-year-old's contract is set to run out next summer. (Football Insider), external
Rival clubs want range of punishments for Man Citypublished at 07:09 BST 7 October
07:09 BST 7 October
Image source, Getty Images
A number of Premier League clubs want Manchester City to be hit with both "retrospective punishments" and sanctions for the future for their mass financial rule-breaking, sources have told BBC Sport.
An independent commission found City guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.
City have appealed against the verdict, while the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is poised to look at the findings to see if there may be any suggestions of potential misconduct.
However, there is said to be a consensus among a group of top-flight club executives that if City's appeal is unsuccessful, the sanctions should make reparations for the period when they broke the rules, while also limiting their powers in future.
There is also a feeling from at least four Premier League boardrooms that a "one-hit" points deduction resulting in relegation to the Championship would be an insufficient punishment given the severity of City's wrongdoing.
Jaissle embracing baptism of firepublished at 09:17 BST 2 October
09:17 BST 2 October
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
It was still a baptism of fire at Newcastle for Matthias Jaissle, who had never previously managed in the Premier League, after predecessor Eddie Howe stepped down.
Jaissle insists friend Thomas Tuchel "didn't need to warn" him about what was coming in the top flight, but he had just three weeks to prepare for the visit of Liverpool on the opening weekend and the squad was in flux.
Captain Bruno Guimaraes was about to follow Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali out of the exit door and join Arsenal for £75m.
Although Newcastle would end up making eight signings, they were all aged 24 and under as the club went from having one of the most experienced sides in the Premier League to the youngest almost overnight.
It was a huge amount of change in a short space of time.
There has also been a spate of injuries to key players, but Jaissle has only lost one of his opening seven matches - a chastening 4-1 defeat at Leeds United.
"There were elements in games where we saw a lot of the things we were looking for," he said. "There were also phases in games where we were not happy and satisfied, so there's still a lot of potential that we can improve."
Jaissle accepts it has been "tougher than expected" to "get stuff into the players' heads" given pre-season was "so short and packed with friendly matches we couldn't change", adding: "Considering all these things, we're doing good."
It feels like there will be ups and downs throughout, given the age of the side, but Jaissle has been struck by the backing of supporters and has quickly settled into life on Tyneside.
He moved out of a hotel into a new home earlier this week and has ventured into the city to sample a handful of restaurants - but only to celebrate wins.
Following the 2-1 victory over Hull City at St James' Park last time out, he even paid for a supporter's birthday meal.
"I really love the fans and the people here," he adds.
'A brand new visual identity for the club'published at 19:30 BST 1 October
19:30 BST 1 October
Media caption,
Newcastle's chief marketing officer Steven Taylor has been speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle about the club's new crest.
He explained: "It's been an extensive process. It's an exercise that the club and team has undertaken with enormous, care, passion and love.
"With the view to deliver a crest for our team in the future but also delivers for the brief by the fans.
"Retaining the heritage of the crest and the components, like the castle, shield and lion was incredibly important to our fans. When we went through the consultation, that brief was incredibly clear, but over 85% of the survey understood the need to refine the crest and make sure it was futureproofed.
"We're introducing a new brand visual identity for the club.
"This is now our official club crest, they will all gradually be replaced across the stadium. Digitally, this is immediate and we're introducing a limited retail capsule so fans will be able to buy limited edition clothing with the new crest.
"The last home game of this season will be the first look at the crest on a plain shirt."
'Every setback also has a positive' - Jaisslepublished at 16:44 BST 1 October
16:44 BST 1 October
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Matthias Jaissle points to his neck.
"I had a tumour when I was five years old," the Newcastle United head coach says. "Here in my neck so I couldn't move it anymore.
"That was a period where I already learned a lot about life, how important it is to be healthy, and how grateful you can be to be healthy and to follow your dream.
"It was not clear that I could play football as a kid anymore."
He did not elaborate further, but such perspective would be needed.
Jaissle, like so many, visualised one day becoming a professional footballer, but he was among the rare few to actually go on to do so.
The former Hoffenheim defender even felt he was on the verge of a senior call up to the German national team at one stage, only to suffer a serious knee injury.
He was just 20 at the time.
Jaissle refused to give up, and "kept the dream for a lot longer than the doctors did", but the setback ultimately curtailed his career and he retired a few years later in 2014.
It left him in a dark place, as he previously detailed in an interview with BBC Sport, but the "wounds" he experienced in life have shaped him.
"That makes you the person you are, whatever aspect it is, with the belief you can overcome every obstacle," he says.
"Every setback also has a positive side. If you overcome these challenges then you become stronger, more resilient."
This outlook gave Jaissle a head start in his second career, but he did not necessarily plan on being a coach. Not at first.
Ralf Rangnick, his former manager at Hoffenheim, invited him on to a training programme at RB Leipzig, where his mentor was working at the time, to sample life behind the scenes at the club.
Jaissle was due to be redeployed in a new department every six weeks and started his placement as an assistant youth team coach to ex team-mate Sebastien Hoeness, who now manages Stuttgart.
He was pencilled in to spend time with the club's sporting director and figures from their administrative, commercial and marketing departments.
But he never ended up doing so.
"I didn't move on," Jaissle says. "After two weeks, wow, I felt joy back in life."
Newcastle unveil new club crestpublished at 09:03 BST 1 October
09:03 BST 1 October
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Newcastle United
Newcastle United has unveiled a new badge - a first change of club crest since 1988.
Although the original emblem was immensely popular with supporters, Newcastle said: "In a modern digital world, the limitations and flaws of a 38-year-old design have become obvious.
"For such a beloved symbol, its detail and uneven lines don't show up as they should on modern platforms. Elements lose their shape and blur on phone screens, in broadcast graphics, in stitching and at the scale and speeds that the modern world demands."
Newcastle spent more than two years consulting with fans, who made it clear in focus groups, workshops and surveys that they did not want the crest to be completely redesigned.
Three tweaked versions were put forward in a poll in August and more than 64% of those 27,348 supporters eligible to vote, including season ticket-holders and members, selected the third option as the new crest.
Newcastle chief executive David Hopkinson said the process was an "enormous" responsibility for "all of us", having "never worked anywhere that feels as proud and passionate about its crest".
"The club has asked supporters questions that we did not know the answers to, and they told us plainly: protect what we have, keep the elements we love and do not start again," he added.
"Every decision after that has been made inside the margins our fans drew, and it is only right that our fans have had the final and decisive say on the outcome.
"Our crest came from the city's own coat of arms and it still does. It honours where we have come from, it represents who we are now, and it will become an iconic symbol for generations of supporters around the world who believe in it and unite behind it."
Newcastle players will wear the new crest for the first time on the pitch in the final home game of the season against Crystal Palace in May.
'At times this summer it felt like a total collapse' - Kohlipublished at 14:24 BST 30 September
14:24 BST 30 September
Media caption,
Comedian, content creator and Newcastle fan Raul Kohli has delivered his no-nonsense, laugh-out-loud verdict on the season so far on BBC Radio Newcastle.
Kohli recalls a summer of "total collapse" following the departures of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon, before witnessing an impressive rebuild and a start to the campaign which has showed a lot of "character".
Boxed into a corner?published at 09:17 BST 30 September
09:17 BST 30 September
Pat Nevin Former footballer and presenter
Image source, Getty Images
The Premier League has opened a Pandora's box of problems which cannot be closed. However well-intentioned, however morally upright they mean to be, the way the product is perceived around the planet by fans will be negatively affected.
This looks like a gigantic mess, but could also become a bit of a joke, especially if they attempt to rewrite history, and change the winners' names on the Premier League and cup trophies over these past 15 years. I wouldn't want the engraver's job.
I believe financial rules brought in to prioritise financial sustainability were also aimed at limiting the money being spent by the clubs, especially the staggering, ever-inflating sums spent on sometimes fairly average players. It could lead to a de facto salary cap, which many fans would approve of.
The long-term problem for the league is easy to see here: if the top players are then offered significantly more money to play elsewhere, they will be off before you can say 'man on'.
I always thought the Premier League had taken a huge risk going down this regulatory road. As with Manchester City's future, nobody knows what the real long-term ramifications will be.
I have a suspicion it could end up being the greatest own goal in the sport's entire history.
The big take: If City are cast out of England's top leagues, what might the owners do – hang around the lower reaches, or find something else? Wasn't there the idea of a Super League? Keep that thought in the back of your mind.
Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.
International break can take your mind away from a bad defeatpublished at 08:42 BST 30 September
08:42 BST 30 September
Pat Nevin Former footballer and presenter
Image source, Getty Images
Most of the time it is not that big a deal if you go into the international break having just lost a club game if I am honest, as teams lose games frequently.
That is just the life of a professional footballer. You have to be able to cope with disappointment as an individual and as a team.
Admittedly, players will sometimes say that they want another domestic game quickly, but it is almost always specifically after a 'bad' defeat as opposed to just a run-of-the-mill loss.
However, if the team has genuinely played terribly, or lost a game they were expected to win comfortably, you will commonly hear the phrase "we want to have a chance to get back out there and put it right quickly".
Players who have had a stinker, even if their team won, might also want to get out again as soon as possible to put it right in front of their fans, or 'reset'. The 'reset' argument is just current football jargon to say, "we will try to get it right next time, and we blew it this week, sorry".
The international break can also have the beneficial effect of taking your mind away from a bad defeat. This is not to say that you don't care, it is just that you must compartmentalise your thoughts and feelings. Footballers are among the best at this.
You simply cannot go to play for your national team and spend the time brooding about what happened against Brentford last week. That way lies madness and another poor performance, only this time in front of the entire nation.
Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.
Hall looking to 'bounce back' on international stagepublished at 08:31 BST 29 September
08:31 BST 29 September
Image source, Getty Images
Newcastle United left-back Lewis Hall is hoping to give a good account of himself during the current international break, after missing out on Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad this summer.
The 22-year-old could make his fifth senior international appearance as England continue their Nations League campaign against Czech Republic on Tuesday, with Nico O'Reilly missing the trip to Prague.
"There is a sense of disappointment but I'm just looking to use that and bounce back now," Hall said.
Hall has already made his mark at club level this season, starting every game under new Magpies head coach Matthias Jaissle and making three goal contributions across seven games.
He added: "You're representing England - one of the best countries in the world - so of course it is a heavy shirt.
"Whenever you step on to the pitch, you have to be at your best and you have to be doing the right things because there is a lot at stake.
"Everyone who is in the squad knows how much it means to each of us to play for our country. It is always nice competition and I think it is healthy to get the best out of players."
Gossip: Besiktas planning January move for Willockpublished at 07:45 BST 29 September
07:45 BST 29 September
Besiktas president Serdal Adali has vowed to sign Joe Willock from Newcastle in January, claiming the midfielder has already chosen a new home in Turkey. (Talksport), external
Gossip: Newcastle monitoring Ait Boudlalpublished at 07:56 BST 28 September
07:56 BST 28 September
Newcastle United are keeping an eye on Rennes and Morocco defender Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, 20, but face competition from Everton, Brentford and Hull. (Teamtalk), external
'Mixed bag to say the least' - fans on Magpies' start to the seasonpublished at 13:05 BST 25 September
13:05 BST 25 September
Image source, Getty Images
We asked you to rate Newcastle United's start to the season and tell us what Matthias Jaissle should be focusing on during this extended international break.
Here are some of your comments:
Ray: Our points haul has been more impressive than our performances overall. However, a number of key players will soon be returning from injury, so I expect that we can maintain a mid-table position into the next phase of the season. The new young players all have positive attributes, especially Sean Steur, who looks to be a class above.
Dan: It's been a 7/10 start all things considered. We have nine players out injured, we've lost Bruno, Gordon and Tonali. I think we will be fine this season, but fans shouldn't expect massive highs. Shearer said it best - this season will be full of highs and lows.
Alvin: Mixed bag to say the least. The players are refreshed under Jaissle, as evidenced by the performances of Elanga and Wissa, injury and missed penalty notwithstanding. Hanging on to wins after dropping so many points from leading positions last season is also encouraging. But the team have given up lots of shots while creating very little - outperforming on both ends is great but unsustainable. Still, optimism is high that returning players (Burn and Joelinton, captain and vice-captain) will lift the team.
Toshi: Given the changes that happened - loss of Howe, the captain, the star number six and star winger - which are massive change, I think Newcastle are doing all right. The only really disappointing result has been Leeds. With the new younger squad and the new manager, there will be times when the tactics won't stick and we get overrun. Leeds saw an opportunity and rushed Newcastle into making mistakes. It's now time for Jaissle to train the shortcomings out of the squad and fix the tactics so Newcastle can go back to winning again.
Andrew: Solid start considering all the changes, young squad and injuries. Can see what the new gaffer is trying to do. We will have more results like Leeds as part of learning process but I'm optimistic about what's to come.
