Newcastle United’s 2024-25 Premier League season gets underway in just under four weeks time with newly-promoted Southampton the visitors to St James’ Park.
There have been significant changes behind the scenes on Tyneside during the last fortnight. Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi have both departed the club with Paul Mitchell coming in as sporting director and James Bunce as performance director.
Prior to Mitchell’s appointment, the Magpies signed Lloyd Kelly on a free transfer from AFC Bournemouth while Odysseas Vlachodimos joined from Nottingham Forest as part of the trade-off that saw Elliot Anderson move in the other direction to help solve the club’s Premier League Profitability and Sustainability (PSR) concerns.
Another goalkeeper, John Ruddy, has also linked up with United following his release from Birmingham City. Lewis Hall can also be classed as a new signing after his permanent £28million move from Chelsea was made official on July 1.
But with only Kelly and Hall in with a realistic shout of playing regularly this campaign, Newcastle fans are clamouring for further new signings.
Here, NewcastleWorld predicts the starting XI Eddie Howe will name on the opening day of the season - on the unlikely basis that there is no transfer activity before then:
1. GK: Nick Pope
Although Newcastle are looking to bring in a goalkeeper this summer, Pope is likely to spend another campaign as the club's No.1. | Getty Images
2. RB: Kieran Trippier
There is a possibility Trippier could leave this summer but if not then he still - at this stage - warrants a place ahead Tino Livramento. | Getty Images
3. CB: Fabian Schar
The Swiss defender continues to age like fine wine. It'll take some effort to edge him out of the starting XI, regardless of who Newcastle sign. | AFP via Getty Images
4. CB: Dan Burn
Burn moved back into the centre of defence during the latter part of last season after 18 months at left-back and was outstanding. An important both on and off the field. | Getty Images