THE SECRET REASON WHY NEWCASTLE UNITED ARE DELAYING THE TARIK MUHAREMOVIC TRANSFER BID
Tarik Muharemovic is on Newcastle's radar to solve their defensive crisis. Discover why a January deal is currently off the table
Tarik Muharemovic has been impressive for Sassuolo, and Premier League clubs have definitely noticed. Right now, though, a January move looks off the table. Newcastle United aren’t making a push for him this month. Maybe those changes come in summer—let’s see if they circle back for the Bosnian international when the season wraps up.
Honestly, Muharemovic looks ready for the Premier League. He’d be a smart pick for Newcastle down the line, especially with their defence needing some fresh legs. They can’t lean on Fabian Schar and Dan Burn forever, and a 22-year-old with this much potential is tough to ignore.
Muharemovic’s got the talent to hold his own in England, and you can bet he’d be excited about a move to Newcastle. Still, Pete O’Rourke told Football Insider there’s no chance of a January deal. According to him, Newcastle aren’t planning to make a move right now. He sees this as a longer-term play, maybe for the summer. January’s just too tricky—Sassuolo won’t want to lose him halfway through their season anyway.
O’Rourke also said Newcastle will keep an eye on him and keep tracking his progress, but if they decide to get serious, it’s probably a summer thing.
And you know what? A move to Newcastle could really tempt Muharemovic. The club has a lot going for it—ambition, money, and a squad that’s hungry for silverware. They just won the EFL Cup and want more. Defence is the weak spot, and a young, talented player like Muharemovic could help them chase bigger trophies.
Money won’t be a problem for Newcastle—they’re among the richest clubs around. If they want Muharemovic, they can get him. Sassuolo may not want to lose a key player, but if Newcastle puts a strong offer on the table, it’s hard to imagine they’ll hold onto him. And honestly, the defender would probably jump at the chance to play in the Premier League.
PRESSURE PEAK: EDDIE HOWE REJECTS EXCUSES AS NEWCASTLE FACE A SEASON-DEFINING MARCH STRETCH
Eddie Howe is fighting back: Read why the Newcastle boss rejects schedule excuses and how the Magpies plan to stun Barcelona.
Eddie Howe isn’t having any of the usual excuses about a packed schedule if Newcastle’s 2025/26 season fizzles out. Right now, that’s pretty close to what’s happening in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, over on Warwick Street in Heaton, the road’s shut after a crash.
Newcastle’s been busy in Barcelona away, with big FA Cup ties against Man City. Sure, those sound exciting, but if the cup runs end early (and most bookies seem to think they will), Newcastle faces an uphill battle to save their league campaign.
If they weren’t in the cup competitions, people would probably accuse the team of checking out early, already thinking about the summer holidays. The season could still end in glory, but if they’re not careful, they’ll slip into the bottom half of the table.
Howe isn’t sugarcoating the pressure. “I hate calling anything impossible,” he said. “That just hands everyone an excuse. Yeah, it’s tough. Our schedule this year makes the one from two years ago look like a breeze.
“It’s really stretched the players’ fitness, our resources, our energy, everything. No doubt, some guys have gone into games running on empty.
“I know we’re a good side. We’ve made progress. But sometimes it feels like just when we’re moving forward, we get knocked back.”
Howe’s not thrilled about the recent run of five losses in six. “A blip like this doesn’t feel normal. It hurts. We’re always trying to give the fans what they want, and lately, we just haven’t.”
Still, a couple of years ago, Newcastle would’ve jumped at the chance to play this kind of schedule. Up next: Man United, Man City in the FA Cup, Barcelona, Chelsea, and a trip to the Nou Camp. Sunderland rounds out March, a stretch that could shape not just this season but the future of St James’ Park.
How’s the message? “You look at the fixtures; you’ve got to stay positive. We have to enjoy these games. Can’t play scared.
“We have to go after them, stay aggressive, and keep our heads up.
“A few years back, if you’d told us these were our next matches, we’d have bitten your hand off for it. Well, here we are.
“So let’s not look back. Eyes forward.”
THE WOLTEMADE MYSTERY: WHY DID EDDIE HOWE PULL HIM AFTER ONLY 25 MINUTES?
Newcastle 3-2 Everton: Read Eddie Howe’s reaction to Nick Woltemade’s 14-touch nightmare and the 12-point Champions League gap.
Eddie Howe didn’t hide his frustration after Newcastle’s rough 3-2 loss to Everton. He admitted they just couldn’t get Nick Woltemade involved; he barely touched the ball before Howe pulled him off after only 25 minutes up front.
Woltemade, the club’s £69 million signing, started in midfield, but it just didn’t click. He got shifted into attack in the second half, but that didn’t work either. After just 14 touches, Howe went back to Anthony Gordon leading the line.
Asked about Woltemade’s quiet night, Howe told Chronicle Live, “We moved things around trying to find a spark. Honestly, we didn’t start well and gave up an early goal. The guys needed new energy, especially after halftime, which was our best spell. But with Nick, we just couldn’t get him on the ball enough, even after moving him up front. He wasn’t getting touches or really getting involved near the goal. That’s why I had to make those changes.”
Now Newcastle’s Premier League season is in real trouble. They’re 12 points off the Champions League spots and fighting just to reach the Europa Conference League unless they pull off something big in the FA Cup or Champions League.
Howe owned up to the team’s slump. “Yeah, in the Premier League, our form just hasn’t been good enough for a while. We know it, and we take responsibility. It’s really frustrating. That’s part of playing in Europe, but we’ve tried to go all-in on every game and treat them all as important. With so many games, though, focus slips. Our league results lately just haven’t been anywhere near what they used to be. Home form used to be so reliable, but that’s dropped off too. We need to get that back fast. St James’ Park should be where we collect the most points, the place where players feel free to play. Lately, that just hasn’t happened.”
Howe even ended up taking Gordon off, which didn’t go over well; some boos rang out after Gordon lost the ball and Everton scored the winner.
“I honestly didn’t notice that,” Howe said, about the crowd’s reaction. “But when that happens, we’ve got to stick together. I’ll back him, and I hope the fans do too.”
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