HOW JACOB RAMSEY OUTPERFORMED TONALI AND GUIMARAES IN KEY HIGH INTENSITY MATCHES
Jacob Ramsey has emerged as Newcastle’s most in-form midfielder, fueling hopes for a Champions League upset at Barcelona.
Newcastle United currently boasts the Premier League’s most in-form central midfielder, yet surprisingly, it’s not the player grabbing headlines in the summer transfer chatter. While Sandro Tonali has shown solid performances, it’s Jacob Ramsey’s growing influence that’s fuelling optimism as Newcastle approaches a critical phase of their season.
Ramsey has recently shifted the midfield battle decisively in Newcastle’s favour. His blend of energy and composure offers a crucial foundation for the rapid transitions Newcastle will rely on to advance past Barcelona. The challenge ahead is immense, perhaps the biggest in the club’s history, but Eddie Howe’s squad has shown remarkable growth over the past week. After a near-dominant display against Barcelona at St James’ Park and a strong away win at Chelsea, the Nou Camp doesn’t seem as daunting as it might have been before.
Despite his importance, Ramsey remains under the radar outside of Tyneside. Meanwhile, Tonali’s name has been linked with moves to the Premier League’s heavyweights Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and even Real Madrid, creating some tension within Newcastle. The club’s cautious stance on discussing Tonali publicly reflects a desire to avoid the sort of transfer saga that unsettled them with Alexander Isak. This quiet approach has inadvertently allowed Ramsey’s standout form to fly somewhat under the radar.
And Ramsey has been impressive, really impressive. Against Manchester United, he was man of the match; he was close to earning similar accolades against Barcelona and shared the spotlight with Malick Thiaw during the win at Stamford Bridge. It’s Ramsey’s quick decision-making and ability to launch swift counterattacks that have breathed new life into Newcastle’s midfield. After a spell of injuries and struggling to break through alongside established players like Bruno Guimaraes, Tonali, and Joelinton, Ramsey now seems to have settled into Howe’s system effectively.
This progression mirrors what we saw with Anthony Gordon, whose transformation since arriving from Everton has been dramatic. He was unremarkable, but patiently integrating him during Newcastle’s most challenging run, with league form teetering, has paid off. His breakthrough came during a must-win game at Tottenham, sparking a surge that revived the team’s prospects.
The real test for Newcastle comes now. Matches against Barcelona and Sunderland carry the weight of the season. Winning both could open the door to a new realm of possibility, while setbacks, especially against Sunderland, could put Howe back under scrutiny and reduce Ramsey’s influence to a mere footnote.
But for the moment, confidence and momentum have returned. And much of that renewed energy traces back to Ramsey’s quietly outstanding contributions.
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.
