Sean Neave of Newcastle in action during the The FA Youth Cup 3rd round match between Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion at Whitley Park on December 09, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.placeholder image
Sean Neave of Newcastle in action during the The FA Youth Cup 3rd round match between Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion at Whitley Park on December 09, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. | Getty Images
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe wants a striker this summer - but he’s backing a rising star to make waves, too.
Newcastle United are in the hunt for a striker this summer - but Eddie Howe is backing one of the club’s rising stars to gate-crash the attacking party long-term.
Howe has, according to reports, set his sights on finding a Callum Wilson replacement as his next biggest priority, having seen an attempt to keep the former England and Bournemouth man at the club on a pay-as-you-play deal scuppered by the player.
NewcastleWorld understands the club have been exploring options in Europe to fill the void left by the 49-goal frontman. The Magpies were this week linked with a bid to rekindle interest in Hugo Ekitike, but Liverpool are thought to be well ahead of United in that race, which may well prove to rich for the Magpies, who are massive admirers of the Frenchman, anyway this summer.
Newcastle United striker options
Newcastle currently have Will Osula as back-up to Alexander Isak, and while the Denmark under-21 striker is well thought of at United, the head coach is still wanting another forward to take the burden off a player who is still very much learning how to play in an ‘Eddie Howe’ team.
Beyond that, Newcastle don’t have any real senior experience in the forward department, with Ben Parkinson fading out of the reckoning after an injury-hit last season, and Garang Kuol likely to leave, if a suitable offer comes in for the Australia international.
It’s understood, though, that Howe thinks a lot of Sean Neave - and has high hopes for the young Geordie.
Sean Neave future
Neave may have only just turned 18, but has already been in and around the NUFC first-team setup for around a year. And while the rangy frontman is yet to make his senior bow, he was on the bench for the Magpies in the Carabao Cup final and a select number of Premier League games.
The teenager netted seven goals in seven games for Newcastle’s under-18 side last season, while also scoring four in five for the under-21s in Premier League 2.
Howe and his coaches have taken care in developing the youngster’s game in the last few months, and have the player on a special programme to become robust enough to eventually, all going well, play at the top level.
Neave will likely be kept around the senior United side this season, and could even make his first-team bow at some point, with Newcastle hoping to be fighting on all four fronts for much of the 2025/26 season. Neave is also likely to be a part of full Champions League squads next season, with senior numbers set to be limited due to UEFA ‘club trained’ rules. Currently only Sean Longstaff ticks that box for the Magpies, and he could well be heading out the door to Leeds United, if a deal can be brokered this summer.
Continue Reading