Jesmond v Darras Hall: Newcastle property hotspots set to tempt Sandro Tonali, Kieran Tierney and more

The North East is set to become home to a few new footballing stars this summer as Eddie Howe looks to bolster his Newcastle United squad ahead of a long-awaited return to Champions League football next season.

Young Yankuba Minteh was the first addition made by the Magpies this summer and now AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali is undergoing a medical ahead of a bumper £60 million move to Tyneside.

With such a big season for the club, supporters will be hoping that there are more to come after that with links to Leicester City star James Maddison and Arsenal full-back Kieran Tierney just two other rumours swirling around the club.

Any new arrival in the North East will look to settle down quickly to feel at home and make an impact on the pitch as soon as possible. Picking the right place to live is no doubt a key part in that.

Newcastle United players past and present have chosen to live across the region but two footballer hotspots have emerged over the past decade and would surely tempt Tonali, Maddison, Tierney and whoever else comes through the door at St James' Park.

The Golden Triangle, Jesmond -

Any Newcastle local will no doubt think of Jesmond and associated the neighbourhood with its big student population, cheap bars and the occasionally rowdy house parties that come with it.

However, part of the suburb has been transformed in recent years to hold some of the region's most enviable properties that benefit from access to Jesmond Dene, the city centre and a number of top schools nearby.

The area has been home to Shola Ameobi, Kevin Nolan and Jonas Gutierrez in the past and is now where Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin live.

Wilson has spoken fondly of his life in Jesmond on the BBC Sounds' Footballer's Football Podcast and Saint-Maximin was famously seen retrieving a couple of his dogs who had escaped from the local student who had rescued them.

Local estate agent Pat Robson told NewcastleWord why Jesmond has become a player hotspot. Director Tim Nixon said: "Despite an enduring reputation as a student hub, there is of course a great deal more to Jesmond.

"Tucked away between Osborne Road and Jesmond Dene, the streets of Adderstone Crescent, Lindisfarne Road and Glastonbury Grove are collectively known as ‘The Golden Triangle’, and the houses there represent some of the most desirable in the city.

"These high-value homes enjoy privacy and seclusion however their super-central position, just moments from Jesmond’s famous restaurants, bars and shops ensure that residents fortunate enough to live there really do enjoy the best of both worlds."

Darras Hall -

The streets of Ponteland and Darras Hall are a little further away from the city centre and St James' Park than Jesmond but do offer extra privacy that bustling Jesmond may not hold.

Runnymede Road in Darras Hall is known for its multi-million-pound homes and high gates that leave passers-by wondering which well-off residents might live behind the doors.

Last year Newcastle supporters seemed to spot Dwight Gayle's £1 million home listed for sale in the area. Joelinton is one of the current squad known to reside in the area, having been stopped on a nearby drink when charged for drunk driving earlier this year. In times gone by, Alan Shearer, Peter Beardsley, and Terry McDermott are all known to have lived on the Darras Hall estate.

Pat Robson said: "Frequently dubbed ‘Millionaires Row’, Runnymede Road on the Darras Hall Estate has long been first choice amongst discerning celebrity and family buyers.

"Lined with luxury mansions, the generous plot sizes and long gated driveways ensure privacy and seclusion, while close proximity to Newcastle International Airport and Newcastle City Centre provide residents with the best of both worlds."