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.
BEN JACOBS EXPOSES NEWCASTLE’S SHOCK TRANSFER MASTERPLAN TO SIGN STRIKER LIAM DELAP
Chelsea fringe star Liam Delap is wanted at St James' Park. Read why a move for teammate Nicolas Jackson has been ruled out.
All the talk around Newcastle United as the summer transfer window approaches seems to be about players leaving, at least for now.
Tino Livramento looks set to move on once the window opens. He’s got only two years left on his contract, so it’s probably the best moment for Newcastle to cash in.
And it doesn’t stop there. This summer could see a lot of big names heading out. Sources at StadiumNest say Anthony Gordon wants to check out his options elsewhere, and there’s plenty of chatter about Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, and Nick Woltemade, too.
So, who’s coming in? Eddie Howe will need to bring in reinforcements if a bunch of players head out, and one name floating around is Liam Delap from Chelsea.
Ben Jacobs mentioned, “Chelsea will have outgoings, and Liam Delap could be one. From what I hear, Delap wants to stay and fight for his place, even though Joao Pedro is nailed down as their main striker. He’s probably waiting to see who the new manager is. But Newcastle definitely have an interest in him; they’ll be looking for another striker this summer.”
Jacobs also made it clear that Newcastle’s not likely to go after Nicolas Jackson. “Jackson’s coming back to Chelsea, and the buy option was never realistic for Bayern. So the links to Newcastle for Jackson aren’t really accurate. If they do turn to Chelsea, Delap is the more likely target.”
And Newcastle doesn’t necessarily have to sell Woltemade or Wissa before bringing in Delap.
They’re planning a big squad overhaul. Jacobs added: “Newcastle are going to be really active; it’s not some mass exodus, but there will be some big departures. They might lose one or even two stars, and it’s not just about balancing the books.
The club’s thinking is simple: they want to add at least one more. Maybe a striker leaves St James’ Park, but it’s not like Woltemade has to go before they sign another. Instead, two major players could leave, and they might not even be strikers. That’ll free up funds for a big squad revamp, and finding another goalscorer is a top priority.”
