INSIDE LOOK: EDDIE HOWE ADMITS SANDRO TONALI "HASN’T REACHED THOSE HEIGHTS" DURING RECENT SLUMP
Sandro Tonali's Newcastle future is in question after a vague interview and Juventus links. Read Eddie Howe’s take on his 2026 form.
Eddie Howe didn’t sugarcoat it—Sandro Tonali just hasn’t looked the same for Newcastle this season.
Newcastle splashed out £55 million to bring Tonali in from AC Milan back in 2023. But thanks to a 10-month betting ban, they barely got to see him in action until the following year. Once he finally got going, things changed fast. Howe shifted Tonali from the No. 8 spot to No. 6, and suddenly everything clicked. Newcastle rattled off nine straight wins between December 2024 and January 2025.
That run set the tone for the rest of the season. Newcastle finally ended a 70-year wait for a domestic trophy when they lifted the Carabao Cup last March. On top of that, they made it back into the Champions League for the second time in three years.
Tonali worked like a machine and had a cannon for a right foot—just look at his goal against Brentford in that 2-1 win last April. People started talking about him as not just one of the best midfielders in England, but in all of Europe.
This season, though, Tonali’s been all over the place, just like Newcastle. He put in some rough performances, especially away at Manchester United and Burnley over Christmas, and fans definitely noticed. Howe agrees: Tonali hasn’t been himself lately, at least not consistently.
Talking to NewcastleWorld, Howe said, “Yeah, I think that’s the main thing. The standards he set last season were incredible. When he came back, it felt like a new signing and gave us a real boost. He connected well with the others and was effective everywhere on the pitch. This season, for whatever reason, he just hasn’t quite reached those heights. We’re working with him to get that back.
“We’ve seen matches, or stretches within games, where he’s played really well. But that consistency, that’s the thing we’re all focused on—him and the team.”
At the start of the season, Newcastle fans worried that Tonali might leave soon, especially with people thinking his contract ended in 2028. Turns out, he’s actually signed until 2030—he agreed to an extension during his betting ban to show he was committed.
Still, fans aren’t totally reassured, especially after a recent interview where Tonali gave a pretty vague answer about his future. When asked if he’d stay at Newcastle long-term, he said, “That’s a tough question. In football, you take it year by year. I don’t want to say I’ll be here for 10 years and then leave after two or three. I just want to focus on each season. Last summer was tough for us, for Alex Isak too, but that’s football. If another opportunity comes along, you have to think about it. I don’t want to promise I’ll stay for a decade, but right now, I’m happy here. I’m not thinking about moving.”
EDDIE HOWE CONFIRMS NEWCASTLE LINEUP SHIFTS ARE PART OF A MAJOR FUTURE STRATEGY
Eddie Howe confirms he is picking Newcastle lineups with next season in mind, trialling players like Ramsey and Woltemade early.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe isn’t pretending he’s already thinking about next season. People have been saying Kieran Trippier is close to triggering a payment if he plays more games, so that might influence whether he features again before the season ends. But Howe brushed that off and said he’s making his decisions purely for football reasons.
Talking to reporters at the City Ground about why Anthony Gordon was missing, Howe admitted he’s picking his lineup with the future in mind. Later, in his press conference, he went into more detail about focusing on what comes next at St James’ Park.
"We’re definitely looking ahead," Howe said. "You can see it in some of the choices I’m making with the team. I want to get a look at some players and see how they might grow into the squad."
One of those players is Jacob Ramsey, who came off the bench, set up Harvey Barnes with a great pass, and really changed the game. "I thought Jacob Ramsey was brilliant when he came on against Forest. He really made a difference, and so did Harvey. It’s good to see players taking their chances," Howe said.
He added, "We have to be thinking about the future now and what the team’s going to look like next year. That’s our responsibility at this point."
Before the match, Howe surprised a lot of fans by starting Lewis Hall at right-back, Nick Woltemade in midfield, and pushing Joelinton further forward than usual. Again, Howe explained he wants to see what players can do in different positions.
"It wasn’t some huge change from Brighton; we kept the same shape," Howe said. "But for Nick, this was only one of a few times he’s started in that role for us. He played alongside Will, and they haven’t had much time together either.
"There were positives for Nick, but he wasn’t involved as much as we wanted in the first half. We still need to see his best on the ball. In the second half, though, I thought we got better as a team. We attacked more and looked like a real threat as the match wore on."
MAGPIES EYE £1M BARGAIN TIAGO GABRIEL TO SOLVE GROWING DEFENSIVE INJURY CRISIS
Newcastle are leading the race against Juventus for Tiago Gabriel, the 21-year-old Serie A defensive sensation.
Newcastle United appear to be keeping an eye on Lecce’s young defender Tiago Gabriel as they consider potential options for the summer transfer window.
With Fabian Schar’s contract due to expire at the end of June, the Magpies are preparing for the possibility of his departure. Although an extension is still on the table, Schar has been sidelined since early January because of an ankle injury and doesn't seem close to making a comeback.
At 21, Gabriel has featured 36 times across all competitions this season for Lecce, who are currently four points clear of the Serie A relegation zone. Newcastle’s recruitment team is among those following his development, seemingly interested in exploring a move once the transfer window opens.
Back in December, reports surfaced that both West Ham and Juventus were also tracking Gabriel’s progress. The young defender, who came through Sporting CP’s academy, has had a strong season and will enter the final year of his contract this summer.
Gabriel transferred to Lecce last January for slightly over £1 million, moving from Portuguese club Estrela Amadora. Should he leave this summer, a significantly higher fee might be expected, reflecting his rise in form.
Before joining Estrela Amadora, Gabriel had been part of Setúbal's academy after leaving Sporting in 2020. His performances have earned him regular appearances for Portugal’s Under-21 side, and senior international opportunities may not be far off.
A switch to the Premier League could potentially boost his profile substantially, but he will likely weigh his options with some care.
According to O Jogo, Newcastle continue to monitor his situation keenly as interest around the defender grows.
Regarding Fabian Schar’s future, things remain uncertain even with just weeks left on his current deal. While Kieran Trippier has been publicly confirmed to be leaving upon contract expiration, no similar announcement has come for Schar.
Last week, Howe commented on the defender’s status, noting that no definitive decision has been made yet. He emphasised Schar’s value to the team, pointing out his unique role as a ball-playing defender and his versatility in various defensive setups.
Schar’s influence on the pitch and experience are clearly appreciated, and the club hopes he can regain full fitness before the season concludes. As for any new contract talks, Howe suggested it’s a matter of waiting to see how things unfold.
