Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe will be carefully considering whether to dip into the market or promote from within
Aaron Stokes is our Newcastle United Editor. Born and bred in the north-east, Aaron left Newcastle in 2017 to work in London for Reach PLC's national titles. After five years in the capital, he returned to take up his current role at The Chronicle in March 2022.
Eddie Howe (C) reacts from the touchline during the friendly football match between English Premier League football club Newcastle United and South Korean K League stars
All this talk of replacing Alexander Isak, big-money forwards pursued around the globe, Aaron Ramsdale coming in between the sticks, defenders admired left right and centre - won't anyone think of Eddie Howe's midfield?!
The exit of Sean Longstaff last month has opened up a spot in middle of the park with Newcastle United now down to five senior central midfielders as the return of Premier League football edges ever closer.
However, with all those aforementioned transfer priorities in other areas of the squad, it remains to be seen what course of action Unied take in the coming weeks.
The options for Howe and his backroom team are simple. Go out and sign a central midfielder or promote from within. Going into the new season with just Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Joe Willock and Lewis Miley is not an option for a team fighting on four fronts.
Juventus' Douglas Luiz, Atletico Madrid's Conor Gallagher and Atalanta's Ederson have all been touted as possible arrivals this summer but each would cost a pretty penny at a time when Newcastle are focusing on splashing out elsewhere.
A quick glance at Howe's Asia squad at present and you receive a hint as to who is clearly in his thoughts going forward. Travis Hernes, fresh from a loan spell in Denmark, is one of the young talents who has made the trip to the Far East.
The former Shrewsbury youngster, signed in 2023, emerged from the bench in Wednesday's defeat to a K-League XI and has been afforded other opportunities in and around the first-team in recent years.
Alfie Harrison was another who received a cameo appearance in scorching Suwon conditions this week, while fellow young gun Anthony Munda was an unused substitute in the first of two Korean clashes.
Harrison was rated by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City but arrived on Tyneside in January 2024 as the club's only signing of the entire window. He is another who has enjoyed a taste of life in the senior side, with a big future at his feet.
Munda is more of an unknown quantity. The Cowgate-born youngster, 18, made his under-21 debut in January 2024 after arriving at the club's youth setup nine years prior. The Far East jaunt is the first time he has been included in Howe's squad for a trip abroad.
Munda has impressed at England youth level and has been pulling up trees on Tyneside too. With Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, followed by two friendlies at St James' Park before the Premier League opener, there is a chance fans may get a glimpse of the teenager in the coming weeks.
The opportunity is there for any of United's young midfield assets to stake their claim this summer as the club prioritise spending the transfer kitty elsewhere.