Newcastle United are expected to be active in this summer’s transfer window.
Newcastle head into the summer transfer window on the back of what Shearer has described as the best season of his lifetime.
The Magpies won the Carabao Cup - beating Liverpool 2-1 in the final at Wembley - to end their 70-year domestic trophy drought, as well as qualify for the Champions League after finishing fifth in the Premier League table.
Eddie Howe and his players have achieved both feats, despite going to three consecutive transfer windows without a major signing. But United are expected to break their duck this summer after navigating through a tricky Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) period.
Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer on the summer transfer window
And Shearer believes Newcastle can become title challengers - if they get their recruitment right.
“I would hope and I’m sure he [Eddie Howe] will demand that they make a few big-hitter signings this summer,” the Newcastle legend told the Rest is Football Podcast. “That’s what they have to do.
“They want to go to the next level and they want to remain where they are, which is in and around the top or five all season and challenge for trophies. But to do that, you have to keep going and it’s time they keep going.
“They’ve got to get in, I think, two or three big hitters who are going to improve the first-team and if they do that, I agree, they’re not far away from challenging.”
Asked what positions the Magpies need to strengthen, Shearer replied: “Another forward, depending on who they sell or who they keep, probably a right-sided midfielder, maybe another centre-half. If they can add that, I really don’t think they’ll be far away.”
Eddie Howe on Newcastle United’s ‘massive’ summer transfer window
Speaking ahead of the summer transfer window, Howe said: “I think all summers are massive. It's very difficult to put one ahead of the other but I think when we haven't been active in the market for so long, in the manner that we want to be active, then there is a danger that you go over a line that the squad weakens because you haven't been doing what you need to do to refresh the group, to challenge the players with new players coming in.
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“I think it's a summer that we have to do that. I know there's a tension throughout the club to do that. And that is the plan.
“Speed is key for us and I've reiterated that many times internally. Speed is key because we have to be dynamic. We have to be ready to conclude things very, very quickly because good players don't hang around for long.
“That's always been my thought and my message on recruitment, really, because you can have a period where you think you've got time, but then you can look around very quickly and realise that that time's elapsed and you've missed opportunities that you won't get again.
“So that's what we'll be trying. But obviously, the reality of that is it's not always in your hands, but we'll be doing our best to do things early. “
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