Newcastle enjoyed one of their best seasons in living memory - reaching the Champions League and winning the Carabao Cup. However, at times the Magpies' comparatively thin squad looked stretched.
With no major signing in three transfer windows, the powers that be must invest to bring Newcastle in line with their European rivals next season.
Areas to strengthen
Centre-half
Newcastle United desperately need to strengthen at the back. They currently only have Sven Botman, Fabian Schär, Dan Burn as viable centre-half options.
Arguably Newcastle's best defender when fit, Botman struggled for consistency last season, and is yet to return to the level he was at prior to his ACL injury.
He will undoubtedly benefit from a full pre-season heading into next season.
In addition to this, both Schär and Burn aren’t getting any younger and will turn 34 next season.
It is no secret that Newcastle are considering their options - having been previously linked with Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace), Abdukodir Khusanov (Manchester City), Axel Disasi(Chelsea) and Malick Thiaw (AC Milan).
It was reported that the hierarchy tried to convince Dean Huijsen to join the club - his team were impressed with Newcastle’s due diligence, however, they ultimately lost out to Real Madrid.
Right Wing
Despite **Jacob Murphy**enjoying the best season of his career - returning 20+ G/A in all competitions, the Magpies will prioritise finding a right-winger in the Summer transfer window.
Bryan Mbeumo had been heavily linked - but after reports about his wage demands emerged, Newcastle quickly cooled their interest.
Names that have been mentioned include Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest), Johan Bakayoko (PSV), and Tyler Dibling (Southampton).
Newcastle need someone who can alleviate the goalscoring burden for a front line who are likely to be stretched at times due to the demands of European football.
Priority Target
Marc Guehi
Newcastle fans may shudder at the mention of Guehi’s name after last Summer’s protracted negotiations for the player who didn’t end up joining the club.
However, Newcastle desperately need reinforcements at the back - and the 24-year-old ball playing right-sided centre-half fits the bill perfectly.
Off the back of an unforgettable season with Crystal Palace where they lifted the FA Cup for the first time, Guéhi is heading into the final year of his deal with the club.
Newcastle should be able to secure his services for considerably less than the £75 million they were quoted by Steve Parish last summer. However, they are likely to face competition from other clubs.
It has been reported that Guéhi has already rejected advances from Champions League bound Tottenham Hotspur, and newly-crowned champions Liverpool who have registered an interest in the England international.
Time is of the essence - Newcastle must act quickly in the transfer market to secure the targets Howe so desperately wants, or risk repeating the gloomy winter of 2023/24.
Three possible departures
In the season that Newcastle qualified for the Champions League, Willock was at the centre of everything good about Newcastle.
He was a constant source of athleticism at the heart of Newcastle’s midfield. However, the 25-year-old simply hasn’t been the same player since.
He missed large parts of the 23/24 season through injury, and in the few cameo appearances he made last season he looked considerably off the pace.
If an offer was to arrive this summer, Newcastle may approve an exit in order to secure a more reliable alternative, or to afford Lewis Miley more first team minutes.
Fulham have been linked with the player, but a concrete offer has yet to materialise.
Heading into the Summer window, Longstaff finds himself way down the pecking order at his boyhood club.
The 27-year-old has found it difficult to break up Eddie’s preferred midfield three of Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton.
However, when Joelinton was ruled out for the season in May, Howe turned to other options instead of Longstaff which may indicate his long-term future is elsewhere.
Everton, and newly promoted Leeds, have been linked with a move for Longstaff who would undoubtedly benefit from playing regular football once more.
A surprise contender for someone who may depart is Livramento.
The 22-year-old enjoyed a successful season last year, winning his first senior cap for England against the Republic of Ireland in November.
Whilst Newcastle will not want Livramento to leave, Manchester City have been heavily linked with a move for the Cobham graduate as they search for a long-term successor to the aging Kyle Walker.
If there is a deal to be done, it won’t come cheap as Newcastle would likely demand at least sixty million.
Expiring Contracts
Newcastle’s third all-time top scorer in the Premier League has endured a torrid time on Tyneside recently.
No sooner has he been declared fit for action is he back on the physio table.
Newcastle must look to sign a more reliable back up to Alexander Isak who missed eight games himself through injury last season.
The club captain did not make a first-team appearance last season due to an extended recovery from an ACL injury.
If Newcastle want to establish themselves amongst the European elite, Lascelles’ future is likely elsewhere.
In one of the stranger moves of the 2024/25 season, Lewis went on loan to São Paulo in Brazil.
With first-choice Lewis Hall set to return from injury, It is highly unlikely that Newcastle will extend his contract.
Barring an unprecedented injury crisis, neither of these two will be anywhere near the first-team squad next season
Whilst it is likely that Ruddy will depart the club at the end of his contract, it is possible that Gillespie will be offered a short extension so the club are compliant with UEFA’s homegrown quotas.