How involved is Howe in transfers? published at 15:23 BST 10 July
15:23 BST 10 July
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Several of you have been wondering - via our Newcastle Ask Me Anything form - whether there has been a change in transfer strategy at St James' Park and how involved head coach Eddie Howe is in recruitment.
Alignment has been a key word behind the scenes at Newcastle United for a while now.
Unlike a year ago, when Eddie Howe was at the coalface in the absence of an executive structure, the Newcastle head coach has been able to fall back on the support of sporting director Ross Wilson and chief executive David Hopkinson.
The window was mapped as a collective – no player has joined the club without Howe's approval – and it has then fallen to the club's hierarchy to bring these targets in.
Newcastle have previously signed players with the potential to grow, including Tino Livramento, Lewis Hall and William Osula, but this summer's strategy is taking that approach a step further.
Bazoumana Toure, Sean Steur and Ewen Jaouen are all aged 20 and under and have no prior Premier League experience.
It will take them time to adapt to the top flight, but the trio could flourish in the right hands and Howe's big passion is improving players on the training pitch.
He has spoken enthusiastically about each of the new signings and, given the financial rules in place, it feels like Newcastle simply have to do this a little differently.
It is hard to imagine the club spending £55m on a 29-year-old again like they did last summer with Yoane Wissa.
If Newcastle's revenues can grow alongside their young recruits then they may have a better chance of keeping hold of them in the long run.
But trading will remain a key part of the club's model moving forward.
In an ideal world Newcastle would not lose quite as many key figures as they have in the last 12 months following the departures of Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak.
Holding on to captain Bruno Guimaraes therefore feels crucial. It would be beyond damaging for the project if he was to also depart this summer.
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'I'm so proud of Dan' - former coach published at 15:23 BST 10 July
15:23 BST 10 July
"When I see him put on the Newcastle shirt or the England shirt, the hairs on the back of my neck stick up," said Tom Woodhouse, Dan Burn's first ever coach at Blyth Town.
BBC Radio Newcastle caught up with Woodhouse about his first impression of Burn, what he was like to coach at a young age and his performance off the bench for the Three Lions against Mexico.
A shift in transfer strategy?published at 14:00 BST 10 July
14:00 BST 10 July
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Newcastle United on X
Newcastle had previously managed to keep hold of their most important players, but the side who made history by ending a seven-decade wait for a major domestic trophy in 2025 has broken up.
Of the 26 players pictured in a jubilant team photograph after the EFL Cup final win against Liverpool, 11 have left the club.
Some changes were overdue, yet there is also a delicate balance to strike.
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe touched upon this in one of his final news conferences of last season when he warned "the squad can't get weaker".
The squad, as it is now, has clear gaps, but Newcastle are understood to have made progress on a move for exciting Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi.
Newcastle have also completed the signings of winger Bazoumana Toure, midfielder Sean Steur and goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen.
Turning to younger players from European clubs is a strategy others have adopted successfully.
Bournemouth, who finished sixth last season, have shown how clubs can recover from the loss of key players with the help of smart recruitment and good coaching.
But experience is needed, too, and Bruno Guimaraes is priceless to Newcastle in that regard. Losing him would mean the whole project is called into question.
Forest's Williams eyed by Premier League clubspublished at 12:03 BST 10 July
12:03 BST 10 July
Nottingham Forest defender Neco Williams is attracting interest from several Premier League clubs, with Newcastle among the teams interested in the Wales international.
Williams is currently in talks over a new deal with Forest - but a number of top-flight rivals are keen on the 25-year-old.
It is understood Newcastle and Manchester United are among the clubs to have registered an interest in Williams while talks over a new contract continue.
Forest remain confident of securing a new deal but the interest in the full-back does create a potential obstacle to a successful conclusion of talks.
Williams still has three years to run on his current deal but Forest want to reward him for his impressive displays last season with an improved contract.
Williams joined Forest in July 2022 for a fee of £12m and has since gone on to make over 150 appearances for the club.
Will your club sign any World Cup breakout stars?published at 12:00 BST 10 July
12:00 BST 10 July
Image source, Getty Images
Plenty of players have made names for themselves at this World Cup, from goalkeepers like Cape Verde's Vozinha and Paraguay's Orlando Gill to New Zealand midfielder Elijah Just.
But though they might not have been familiar to fans, the extent of modern scouting means clubs all over the world will already have known about many of them – so how have their heroics at the tournament affected their standing in the game, and their value in the transfer market?
More than the Score's Mani Djazmi is joined Ben Littlemore from Transfermarkt, one of the world's foremost football databases. Lutz Pfannenstiel, sporting director at Aberdeen, also shares his footballing knowledge in today's episode.
Guimaraes' importance - the numberspublished at 10:31 BST 10 July
10:31 BST 10 July
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Rebuilding the squad was always on the cards at St James' Park this summer.
Newcastle, fresh from a settlement with Uefa, have needed to sell in order to significantly reinvest.
Anthony Gordon completed a £69.3m move to Barcelona while Sandro Tonali joined Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth up to £100m.
Such sales have helped to create headroom for Newcastle to spend within the game's financial rules.
There is a cold argument that this could also be the right time to cash in on Bruno Guimaraes, who tuns 29 in November.
Yet that does not take into account the Brazilian's true value to Newcastle as the team's beating heart.
Newcastle have suffered plenty of defeats with Guimaraes in the side, but it is a little telling that the club have only won two of the 16 Premier League games their influential talisman has missed since he joined.
Without Guimaraes, Newcastle's win percentage (12.5%), points per game (0.7), average goals for (0.8) and even average goals against (1.6) all suffer in the top flight.
Although it is an admittedly larger sample size, Opta data shows that Newcastle's win percentage (50.7%), points per game (1.7), average goals for (1.9) and average goals against (1.3) have been significantly higher when Guimaraes has featured.
Given his importance, season ticket holder Liam Phillips said he would be "absolutely devastated" if Guimaraes moves on, particularly after the midfielder's arrival signalled "hope and ambition" in 2022.
"His departure would be very symbolic in terms of what it says about the trajectory of the project," he said.
"Newcastle have lost Isak, Gordon and Tonali in the last 12 months. To lose Bruno would be very alarming."
Jona: Bruno wanting to leave is an inevitable by product of us selling our best players - Isak, Gordon and Tonali. While he would be the ideal captain to lead us during our rebuild, unfortunately you can understand him wanting to leave and challenge for titles. We'll just have to get the best fee we can for him and shop smart in the market to replace him.
Samuel: This could be more of a kick in the teeth than Isak. The club captain, who throughout his entire time at the club has seemed so devoted to the journey we're on. There was a sense of inevitability around the Gordon and Tonali transfers, but I suppose I didn't see this one coming. I said last year when Isak left that there was a lot of work to be done to change player perspectives of the club. Clearly there's still more to do.
Gordon: I am saddened but not surprised. Bruno has been special as the engine of the team. A great leader and he will be missed, of course. I don't blame him for seeking a stronger more successful club. I hope the deal is done quickly and without animosity.
Dave: Putting it mildly, it's an absolute disaster. Since he arrived, Bruno has been the beating heart of the team (see results when he's not played) and the most creative player in midfield. Without him, there is a distinct lack of passion, creativity and forward thinking. We desperately need to keep him or else a season without Europe could easily turn into a season without hope.
Tony: There's clearly a reason why all the top players are leaving. The team has gone stale under Howe. We will not challenge for the top honours and we don't have the ability to spend on top players. Bruno has been brilliant for the club and I'm happy to see him go and play for a top club and win silverware. His attitude and his love for the Toon cannot be faulted. It's just a shame the leadership and PSR have driven us to a point where this has happened.
Magpies fan Jonny Greenwood from True Faith NUFC Podcast joined Harry Roy on Total Sport to give his reaction to the news of Guimaraes asking to leave.
You can watch his reaction below or listen alongside reaction from BBC Radio Newcastle's Mathew Raisbeck and Roy on BBC Sounds here.
The trio are all aged 20 and under and, following a series of knockbacks in the transfer market in the past year, it felt significant they were keen on making the move to St James' Park.
Could Johan Manzambi follow suit?
Freiburg are in a strong negotiating position following the midfielder's performances at the World Cup with Switzerland, but Newcastle have the headroom to reinvest within the financial rules after selling Sandro Tonali to Tottenham for a fee potentially rising to £100m.
The Magpies would also be able to offer Manzambi the platform to develop further with regular first-team football.
The next couple of weeks feel significant.
Manzambi, who changed representatives in the build-up to the window, has made it clear in interviews he will address his future after the World Cup.
He has certainly not let the growing interest distract him, which did not come as a surprise to Luigi Pisino, who coached him at Servette's academy.
"He's someone with his feet on the floor," he said. "He remains humble and has a lot of values, even outside of the pitch.
"He's really close to his biggest brother, who was always with him, and his father as well. They shared a lot of values."
Newcastle are not the only interested party, of course, and the club have been here before.
'An incredible feeling' - Magpies sign 'top young prospect' Steurpublished at 14:38 BST 9 July
14:38 BST 9 July
Image source, Getty Images
New Newcastle signing Sean Steur says it is an "incredible feeling" to sign for a "giant club" after his £23m move from Ajax was confirmed.
Midfielder Steur, 18, has become the third player aged 20 and under the Magpies have bought in so far this summer after Bazoumana Toure and Ewen Jaouen.
He has signed a five-year contract until 2031.
"It was always my dream to play in the best league in the world, so this is really exciting," Steur told club media.
"I was at home at Ajax – I joined when I was seven and I leave with only good memories - but when a club like Newcastle comes for you, it's really hard to say no. The last few days have gone fast and I'm very happy to join."
Steur established himself as a regular at Ajax in the second half of last season, starting in the De Klassieker win over Feyenoord at the age of just 17.
Magpies boss Eddie Howe described Steur as a "top young prospect", adding: "We see real potential in Sean and believe he has the characteristics to become a valuable player for us for years to come.
"Sean is an exciting addition to our squad. He's had an excellent upbringing at Ajax, who have an outstanding track record of producing young players."
Losing 'priceless' Guimaraes would call the whole project into questionpublished at 12:17 BST 9 July
12:17 BST 9 July
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
It was a statement which was a little revealing, in hindsight.
"A very frustrating season, and without a doubt we are all very disappointed," Bruno Guimaraes wrote on Instagram after Newcastle's 2-0 defeat by Fulham on the final day of the season.
"You fans definitely did not deserve this."
Newcastle ended up finishing 12th in the Premier League, failing to qualify for Europe, let alone the Champions League.
Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali have since left, meaning Newcastle have lost three key players in less than a year, following Alexander Isak's protracted move to Liverpool last summer.
A shift in strategy has led to Newcastle targeting promising players aged 20 and under on the continent, such as Bazoumana Toure, who will naturally need a little time to flourish.
Guimaraes would be the ideal figure to help lead this rebuild for Newcastle as the club's captain and heartbeat.
Yet this is clearly a delicate juncture in his career as he approaches his 29th birthday.
Could it be one of his last chances to go somewhere else and compete for some of the biggest prizes in the game?
Guimaraes, ideally, hoped to do so at Newcastle one day, having talked of the club's ambition to be a "big power" following his move from Lyon in 2022.
So losing him would be beyond damaging and call the whole project into question.
Given the going rate for midfielders, Newcastle would be in a strong position to command a premium for the Brazil starter - far more than the £60m mooted.
But no-one at the club will want to contemplate such a thought. Guimaraes really is priceless to this side.
Why selling Guimaraes simply wouldn't look goodpublished at 09:23 BST 9 July
09:23 BST 9 July
Matthew Raisbeck BBC Radio Newcastle's Newcastle United commentator
Image source, Getty Images
Last month, Arsenal held some conversations - quite exploratory - with Bruno Guimaraes' representatives about the potential financial conditions for a deal and a fee of £60m was mentioned, but there was no formal approach to Newcastle then.
Newcastle's position is they do not want to sell their captain and they are not inviting offers for him. Bruno has been away at the World Cup but Brazil have been eliminated so maybe the timing there is key to all of this as well.
Inside the past 12 months, Newcastle have sold for big profit but have also lost Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon, and Sandro Tanali - three big stars and huge names.
Guimaraes is their captain. He is their most influential player now - we saw when he was injured last season just how much they missed him.
Selling another star name simply wouldn't look good. And what message would it send to players already there and also to potential new signings?
They are bringing in some exciting young talent, but you need experience as well. You do need a sprinkling of stars in your team and they have lost a few. Bruno is one of the few remaining established stars. He's given them great service but surely they cannot think about selling him.
The counter-argument is that it is probably the best time to sell him financially. He's 28, with two years remaining on his contract, so his value will probably never be higher.
I don't know if there's a scenario in which he would sign a new deal with Newcastle and he probably only has one more big move in his career.
But for how it would look in terms of football and what it would mean for the club and the fans, and the further questions it would raise about the direction of Newcastle, I think it would be a bad move to sell him.
Guimaraes asks to leave amid Arsenal interestpublished at 19:01 BST 8 July
19:01 BST 8 July
Sami Mokbel and Ciaran Kelly BBC Sport
Image source, Getty Images
Captain Bruno Guimaraes has asked to leave Newcastle, with Arsenal accelerating their interest in the midfielder.
The Brazil international, who arrived from Lyon in 2022, has been a player of interest for the Premier League champions this summer.
Although Newcastle have had no direct contact from Arsenal, Mikel Arteta's side are now poised to make a fresh offer for Guimaraes, who missed a penalty for Brazil as they exited the World Cup in the last 16 to Norway on Sunday.
Newcastle do not want to lose Guimaraes, the team's captain and talisman, having already sold Italy international Tonali and Anthony Gordon in this transfer window.
Newcastle target Manzambi 'wants to improve every single day'published at 15:55 BST 8 July
15:55 BST 8 July
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Johan Manzambi mapped it all out.
The determined midfielder had his sights set on the 2026 World Cup before he even made his debut for Freiburg or won his first senior cap for Switzerland.
Manzambi was therefore never going to just settle for a place in the squad once he got there.
The 20-year-old instead relished this grand stage as one of the tournament's breakout stars.
Manzambi missed Switzerland's last-16 win over Colombia with a knee injury and it remains to be seen if he will be fit enough to feature against holders Argentina in the quarter-finals, but he has already made tournament history after becoming the youngest player to chalk up five goal involvements at a World Cup since records began in 1966.
It feels like this is just the start for the Newcastle target, with close friend Yann Sturm saying: "I'm sure we will be hearing a lot more from him over the coming years."
It has been quite a rise.
But Manzambi's thirst to get better quickly caught the eye at Freiburg as he rose through the ranks following his move from Swiss side Servette in 2023.
After one particularly draining training session with the reserves went on far longer than planned, Manzambi even asked the then Freiburg II manager Benedetto Muzzicato if he could go over the gameplan again because it "didn't feel right".
"He wants to improve every single day," Muzzicato said. "If anything, you have to slow him down rather than motivate him."
Among players in the Bundesliga in his position in 2025-26, Manzambi ranked first for 10-plus metre progressive carries (116), shot-ending carries (13) and fouls won (78) as opponents tried to stop him.
He was second for total take-ons (71), opposition half take-ons (52) and total carry progress (2,476 metres).
Steur deal 'another sign Newcastle's approach to recruitment is changing'published at 12:58 BST 8 July
12:58 BST 8 July
Image source, Getty Images
BBC Radio Newcastle's Matthew Raisbeck says the prospective deal to sign 18-year-old Ajax midfielder Sean Steur is "another sign that Newcastle's approach to recruitment is shifting and changing".
The deal for Steur comes as the Magpies continue to reinvest in the squad after midfielder Sandro Tonali joined Tottenham for a fee worth up to £100m.
"This is a transfer that has come out of the blue really," said Raisbeck.
"He is not a name that has really been out there and mentioned in connection with Newcastle.
"There is a lot of speculation. Many of their targets are known but some of them aren't. Like the Bazoumana Toure deal last week, this one seems to have come out and been made public when it is almost done.
"Given some of Newcastle's problems in the transfer window over the last year, that is quite satisfying for the supporters and the club.
"Steur is a young player, but he has first team experience for Ajax after coming through their academy and has established himself in their midfield. He is also a Dutch under-19 international and has some Champions League experience from last season.
"It is a lot of money on an 18-year-old, but it seems to be another sign that Newcastle's approach to recruitment is shifting and changing. They have signed a young goalkeeper, a young winger, and now a young midfielder.
"They are clearly prioritising young players with room for growth and development and if they can fulfil their potential there is lots of resale value in there as well."
The Dutch club are therefore in a delicate position, because the academy graduate's value is likely to drop when he enters the final year of his contract next summer.
The 18-year-old academy graduate made his first-team debut in December, but quickly established himself as a regular, starting in the De Klassieker win over Feyenoord a couple of weeks later.
According to Opta, of those midfielders who started the season aged 18 or younger in the Eredivisie, Steur ranked first for chances created (15), total carries (231) and duel success (56.8%).
He was second for passes (623), passing accuracy (89.7%), tackles (20), possession won (49) and duels won (46).
Sign Vlahovic but don't go for Bowen? Free agents and who to avoidpublished at 08:49 BST 7 July
08:49 BST 7 July
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on which free agents Newcastle could target this summer and whether there is one player the Magpies are linked with but you hope they never sign.
Here are some of your comments:
Elliot: Darwin Nunez he has been linked to Newcastle for at least a year and he cannot shoot to save his life. If Newcastle sign him it is basically over.
Tom: After the years of Mike Ashley signing 'free' transfers that were rarely useful, always on high wages and generally had to be paid off, I wouldn't sign anyone on a free. A signing we're always linked with but I don't want... Bart Verbruggen. Yes, we need a new first-choice goalkeeper but this guy seems to make a lot of unforced errors.
Paul: We are crying out for a proper number nine so I would take Dusan Vlahovic on a free as he is exactly that and still young enough with his best years ahead. The player we have been constantly linked who I would not want us to sign is Manuel Ugarte - he can't get a game at Manchester United so why would he get a game with us?
Peter: I think it's a no-brainer - go for John Stones as a back-up with experience.
Ian: Having watched Stones play against Newcastle in the cup back in March, I was struck by his quality, how assured he was on and off the ball, his communication, and clear leadership. I know he has had injury issues, but if we can afford his wages I would be signing him up.
Richard: We absolutely shouldn't sign Jarrod Bowen - not that he's a bad player but because he's too old. He'll be relatively expensive with big wages, and he's too much of a Hammer at heart. Yes, he's got Premier League experience but we can get similar quality that is cheaper, younger, less wages and a higher potential sell-on by buying from Europe. It's perhaps this last point that is most important as I think we'll be adopting a more 'buy to sell' approach in future. I don't like it, but that's just how football goes now.
