The huge double transfer Eddie Howe should make as his side prepare for the Champions League next season.
For Newcastle United, securing Champions League football was crucial for a few reasons. Firstly, considering the three-point buffer they had over sixth place with just two Premier League matches to play, it would have represented an almighty missed opportunity had they fallen away at the last hurdle. A place at Europe’s top table also gives the club the best chance to hold onto irreplaceable players such as Alexander Isak, while offering Eddie Howe the funds necessary to strengthen the squad over the transfer window.
They just about managed to secure fifth place despite an almost fatal slip-up at home to Everton on the final day which, on many other occasions, would have resulted in heartbreak for the Toon Army. Carlos Alcaraz scored the only goal of the game as Newcastle failed to perform to their usual standards on the day, allowing their mid-table visitors several golden opportunities which eventually led to a first home Premier League defeat since the start of February. Howe said at the full-time whistle that his side appeared nervy at points during the game, and they will count themselves lucky that Aston Villa were defeated at Manchester United to hand them a get out of jail card.
Over the course of particularly the second half of the season, there is no doubt that the Magpies are deserving of a Champions League place, no matter how they managed to get there in the end. Now, attention will turn to how to prepare the squad to fight on all fronts in 2025/26 - and we have identified a couple of key transfer targets who could be the perfect additions.
Howe should launch sensational £118m double swoop
One thing that Champions League qualification means is money - with reports of an £100m windfall from competing in the newly-formed league phase alone. Newcastle have no shortage of funds as it is, but this crucial added income could be just what they need to avoid any PSR constraints and bring in some marquee signings this summer.
Crystal Palace’s FA Cup match winner Eberechi Eze and Brentford’s 20-goal Bryan Mbeumo have both been predicted for big moves this transfer window, and there is no doubt that Newcastle should make a move for both in statement moves which would cost a combined total of at least £118m.
Eberechi Eze - £68m: With 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, 26-year-old Eze is improving year on year and is ready to take the next step of his career to a European-challenging side. With a reported £68m release clause active this summer, he is likely to be on the move away from Selhurst Park. Watching the playmaker gliding past opponents on the biggest stage in the Champions League is something both he and the world deserve, and the North East could be the place to make it happen. The Magpies would face stiff competition from Tottenham Hotspur and even Bayern Munich, so a move would need to be made quickly - but if Eze decides to stay in the Premier League, an argument could be made that Newcastle could be the perfect destination, as a well-run club on the up with ambitions of challenging for league titles in years to come.
Bryan Mbeumo - £50m: This one is a no-brainer for the Toon. Very few players are capable of notching 20 Premier League goals in a campaign - just five managed it this season, to be exact - and with Newcastle already boasting one of the country’s top marksmen in Isak, the addition of Mbeumo would create a formidable strike-force. Mbeumo normally operates from the right wing, cutting in onto his left foot to create havoc, and at just 25 still has the best years of his career ahead of him. Manchester United have been touted as having a strong interest in the Brentford man, but with the offer of Champions League football, an approach by the Toon could be too good to turn down. He could be available for around £50m.
How Eberechi Eze and Bryan Mbeumo would improve Newcastle
While the talent of both players is deniable, they would also offer something unique and potentially game-changing to Howe’s side. With Champions League football comes the need for strength in depth, something Newcastle struggled with last time they were in Europe’s premier club competition in 2023/24. While it may have come too soon then, they must ensure they are ready to take Europe by storm this time around.
Eze can operate both in midfield and from the left wing, and offers a different option to anything the Magpies have currently along with a creativity capable of unlocking the tightest of defences. He has also shown he shows up in key moments in Palace’s run to FA Cup glory, scoring the opening goal in both the quarter and semi final before scoring the only goal of the game against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the final. This ability to come in clutch with priceless goals is essential for any side hoping to fight on all fronts.
As for Mbeumo, he would compete for a place on the right wing and could nail down a starting spot there for years to come. Jacob Murphy has had the best season of his career, but at 30 years of age competition and a long-term successor are needed and Mbeumo would offer a goal-scoring prowess which simply cannot be argued with. Eze and Mbeumo once contested the West London derby as opponents for QPR and Brentford respectively in the Championship - but if Newcastle are to get their way, the pair could soon be joining forces on the biggest stages in Europe for the Toon.
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