How Newcastle United Could Line Up Next Season
What a season Newcastle United have had. They’ve been making steady progress on and off the pitch since the takeover went through, but who could have envisaged a top-four finish and the securing of Champions League football at this stage? It’s already got fans of the club and neutrals discussing how The Magpies could line up next season.
You can guarantee from the get-go that manager Eddie Howe won’t tear up his squad to make mass changes. While the club’s Saudi owners are willing to spend heavily, the former Bournemouth boss has always spoken about doing things properly, so the changes to the playing staff will likely be more considered, precise and even subtle. But, whatever business Newcastle do, the fans looking forward to Premier League betting odds on their team will see them shorten as a result, which shows things are moving in the right direction.
Newcastle will likely line up next season very similarly to how they have done this, albeit with a couple of new faces here and there. Players such as Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Joe Willock, Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson have proved their worth and will remain mainstays in Howe’s starting XI and plans for the future, you’d imagine. But The Magpies hierarchy are willing to sanction moves for the right players and people, which is important to Howe, and they will undoubtedly be of a higher quality than those already at the club.
Sven Botman has had a great campaign at centre half, but he could have a new partner alongside him next term. Lille’s Jean-Clair Todibo has been linked, and at twenty-three, he’d fit the profile Newcastle are looking for. With Botman only twenty-three himself, The Magpies would have a stellar long-term centre-back partnership, with Fabian Schar and long-term absentee Emil Krafth to deputise, and Jamaal Lascelles, among other defenders, to move on.
It will be a similar approach to central midfield, especially after Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Joe Willock have stepped up and really shown their class in the middle of the park. It could simply be about adding another high-quality option, such as Leicester City’s James Maddison, who is reportedly set to leave The Foxes regardless of whether they remain in the Premier League. He’s a proven high-end performer, and the transfer fee wouldn’t be too steep compared to other potentially more glamorous options.
There could also be movement in terms of wingers at Newcastle this summer too. While the club shelled out big money for Everton’s Anthony Gordon, Allan Saint-Maximin’s future is unclear, Ryan Fraser is heading for the exit door, and while Miguel Almiron has impressed, he’s also recently been losing his place to Jacob Murphy. So you’d expect to see outs and potentially ins in this area.
All of Newcastle’s signings have been carefully considered, and this approach will continue. There’s always been a preference to improve the quality of the team and the squad while not disrupting the harmony created by Howe and his staff. The only other thing to consider is that The Magpies will be playing Champions League football next term, so they will need to operate with a larger group of players.
