It’s been a manic week or so at Newcastle United as they gear up for the 2024-25 Premier League season.
Beginning with last weekend, the Magpies were facing a Premier League points deduction as they frantically attempted to sell players in order to comply with Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) before the deadline on June 30. At the 11th hour, United could breath a sign of relief after offloading Yankuba Minteh to Brighton & Hove Albion and Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest for a combined £68million.
Minteh left Tyneside without kicking a ball after he spent last season on loan at Feyenoord. Meanwhile, academy graduate Anderson was sold for a club-record £35m, equalling the total of Andy Carroll’s move to Liverpool in January 2011.
Arriving in the opposite direction was Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos for an undisclosed fee. United also confirmed a one-year contract for veteran goalkeeper John Ruddy, who replaces Loris Karius as third choice after his contract expired at Birmingham City.
Monday (July 1) was also the day Lewis Hall and Lloyd Kelly officially joined the club. Hall spent last season on loan from Chelsea but joins permanently for an initial £28million, a club record fee paid for a teenager. Kelly arrived on a free transfer from AFC Bournemouth on a five-year contract.
Off the field, Newcastle and Manchester United finally reached an agreement over a compensation package for Dan Ashworth. And the Magpies have wasted no time in confirming Ashworth’s successor with former Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton and Monaco man Paul Mitchell taking up the sporting director position.
Further signings and departures will happen in the coming months but as things stand, here’s the 25-man Premier League squad Eddie Howe would likely name:
5. CB: Jamaal Lascelles
Like Botman, Newcastle's skipper is currently sidelined with an ACL injury and isn't expected to return until the end of the year. | Getty Images
6. CM: Joelinton
Newcastle are looking forward to seeing Joelinton, who signed a new long-term contract in April, at full pelt once again after a thigh injury disrupted his 2023-24 campaign. | Getty Images
7. CM: Sandro Tonali
Tonali is eligible to play from August 29 when his 10-month ban from football expires. Newcastle fans can't wait to see their £55m midfielder in action. | Getty Images
8. ST: Callum Wilson
The likelihood is Wilson will leave Newcastle this summer, even if Eddie Howe does want to keep the prolific striker. The England man is 33 next year, injury prone and into the final year of his contract. | Getty Images