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:
9. RW: Anthony Gordon
Although Gordon enjoyed a lot his success down the left-hand last season, the 23-year-old has proven to be effective wherever his plays across the front line. | Getty Images
10. LW: Harvey Barnes
Barnes scored some important goals last season but it's fair to say Newcastle haven't quite seen the best of the winger yet after his debut year was disrupted by injury. Photo: Stu Forster
11. ST: Alexander Isak
Most clubs would love to sign Isak but the message is simple... he isn't for sale. His 25 goals last season ranked him among the best in Europe. | Getty Images