NEWCASTLE RETURN TO ACTION AT CRYSTAL PALACE AMID INTENSE EDDIE HOWE RUMOURS
Newcastle return to face Crystal Palace. Discover the latest on Eddie Howe's job and Tonali's potential move to Man Utd.
Newcastle are finally back after what feels like an endless three-week break, heading to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace. That time off might have given everyone a chance to catch their breath, but let’s be honest, the break just stirred up more questions and a bit of restlessness around the club.
It’s been three weeks since that heavy loss to Sunderland at St James' Park. Now, Newcastle have to put the pieces back together as they travel to South London and try to get their season back on track. They’re still four points from a European spot, and with only seven games left, closing that gap is pretty much a must if they want to play European football next year.
But rumours are circling about Eddie Howe’s future hard to imagine when you remember he ended a 70-year trophy drought and took Newcastle to the Champions League twice. Still, this year’s Premier League run has people asking tough questions. Right now, Newcastle sit 12th, and, excuses aside, nobody at the club thinks that’s good enough, given their ambitions and the squad they’ve put together.
Last week, CEO David Hopkinson didn’t exactly clear things up about Howe. While it sounds like Howe still has support from the top, everyone knows these next seven games are crucial. Hopkinson also hinted that the club is more open to selling a key player this summer if the right offer comes. No dragging out any deals like Alexander Isak’s move to Liverpool last year.
Tino Livramento and Sandro Tonali might be the biggest targets. Livramento still hasn’t signed a new contract, something Ross Wilson flagged as a priority months ago, and both Manchester City and Arsenal are watching him closely. Tonali, meanwhile, reportedly has interest from Manchester United and others. There’s also noise around Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes, and Lewis Hall, but if the club offloads anyone big, Livramento and Tonali seem most likely.
That makes Newcastle’s summer plans even more interesting. They’re eyeing a keeper, a right-back, a midfielder, and a forward. Sunday's lineup against Palace might tell us something about what’s coming. Kieran Trippier already announced he’s leaving, so if he starts over Livramento, it might give away some of the club’s thinking.
On top of that, Newcastle could finally have six fit midfielders again if Bruno Guimaraes and Lewis Miley return. If Tonali gets left out of the midfield, that might say something about his future, too.
These last seven matches are all about staying locked in. Newcastle have to get everyone pulling in the same direction if they want to chase down those European places. Any off-field distractions need to get out of the way. Now’s not the time to lose focus.
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.
