Alan Shearer delivers brutal Newcastle United transfer verdict as co-owner releases summer statement
Newcastle United head into the summer transfer window on the back of their lowest Premier League finish under Eddie Howe.
Alan Shearer has called for a squad overhaul after Newcastle United capped off their dismal Premier League campaign with a 2-0 defeat at Fulham.
The Magpies finished 12th in the Premier League table, their lowest finish under Eddie Howe, having previously finished 11th, fourth, seventh and fifth.
Howe’s side lost 17 of their 38 league matches, with only the bottom three teams - West Ham United, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers - losing more. They also dropped 27 points from winning positions and only gained three points from losing positions, the worst record in the division on both counts.
Alan Shearer calls for Newcastle United squad overhaul
Newcastle lost top scorer Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a British record £130million last summer but spent the best part of £250million in attempting to improve the squad ahead of another Champions League campaign.
But Howe’s squad have gone into a state of decline, and Shearer believes major surgery is required this summer in order to fix the team’s shortcomings.
Shearer made those comments when assessing the opening goal Newcastle conceded against Fulham.
“I just thought it was nowhere near good enough, not enough energy or hunger to improve,” Shearer told Match of the Day. “Look at the reaction of [Joe] Willock, Bruno Guimaraes and the back four who were on the 18-yard line, I mean, come on! You have to do better than that.
“Bruno has to track his man, Willock has to do more to block it and then the four of them standing on the 18-yard line, not one of them really follow in expecting it to come back. Diop’s reaction was so much better than Newcastle’s.
“I think it’s clear for everyone to see that Eddie needs to refresh, he needs to ship six or seven out and get six or seven in.
“Yeah absolutely [it’s about desire], and wanting to improve and wanting to get the result when the club have had a really difficult season in the Premier League, and that’s why they are where they are in the league at the this moment in time and why it’s been so poor in the league.”
Newcastle United co-owner makes transfer vow
And the enormity of this summer doesn’t appear to be lost on the club, with co-owner Jamie Reuben releasing a statement just hours after the final whistle blew at Craven Cottage.
“Thank you to the travelling support today, clearly a very disappointing result at the end of an underwhelming season, despite some great moments in the Champions League and other domestic cups, we have not lived up to where we should and need to be,” Reuben wrote on X.
“All of us, from ownership down to the coaching staff and players, will work tirelessly over the summer to advance our project, come back stronger and start the new season in the best way possible.
“To all our supporters, staff everyone associated with @NUFC thank you for your support.”