The Magpies are ready to make up for their own version of dry January with a summer spending spree
Ayyoub Bouaddi of Lille
Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi
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Newcastle United chiefs are confident of backing Eddie Howe with at least four new summer signings in summer 2026.
The Magpies have the full backing of PIF, who were keen to spend this January, only for PSR hurdles to prove too tricky for the third January window running.
The phrase "keeping powder dry" has been uttered in the last fortnight after it became clear that the transfer options available to Newcastle weren't going to fit the bill at St James' Park for the second half of the season.
It is expected that Howe will get a new right-sided centre-back this summer along with full-back cover, a central midfielder and a younger striker to offer depth and competition for Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade.
Lille's 18-year-old teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi is a player Newcastle are believed to be aware of and a name that has been put to scouts this season. But there is intense competition for the star with Arsenal already understood to have held initial talks with the player's agent and Paris St-Germain also keen.
Bahmed Deuff of Nantes, a 6ft 4in defensive midfielder, is another teenager who is believed to have been pushed in the direction of club scouts by intermediaries. The youngster has made 10 appearances for Nantes after signing his first professional deal this season.
Contracted until 2029 with Nantes, he is deemed one of the best young talents playing in Ligue 1.
However, Newcastle are confident of a similar haul of senior players to boost their squad and while the January window resulted in no new senior signings, the club's scouts have still been out and about in recent weeks. A summit meeting is in the diary to assess fresh targets.
Bahmed Deuff of FC Nantes
Bahmed Deuff of Nantes
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Summer spending and the PSR landscape is also likely to be cleared a little with some first-team stars leaving Newcastle this summer. Kieran Trippier, Joe Willock and Fabian Schar could head for the exit door. Willock has genuine interest from Fulham and Crystal Palace while Trippier is wanted by Saudi Pro League clubs with his contract set to end in June.
Schar's situation has been complicated by an ankle injury but could be missing until April. He may then just get a month or so to win a new deal.
Newcastle to step up security operation with new role
CEO David Hopkinson made it clear that he wanted every department at "world class" level when speaking to journalists on December 1.
Not just commercially or on the field, but right across the club. And that is proving to be the case with another new hire on the horizon.
The club was unhappy and concerned when videos appeared on TikTok earlier this season of two impostors bunking into St James' Park via a fire exit for a Premier League fixture. And since then, security at the stadium has been cranked up significantly with extra stewarding and extra checkpoints in places.
The Magpies will now appoint a new director of security later this year. A job advert at the club read: "As the Club’s strategic lead for security, you will be responsible for developing, implementing and assuring NUFC’s end-to-end security framework. This includes physical security, cyber security, intelligence-led risk management, business continuity, and the protection of high-profile individuals across multiple sites."
Nobby Solano returns to St James' Park
The Peruvian legend was back at St James' for the recent clash with Aston Villa as a corporate guest. Solano is taking a short holiday from his role as Pakistan manager and is enjoying some downtime on Tyneside.
The popular former Toon star charmed supporters back at St James' with some tales of days gone by before the Villa game. Unfortunately, the battle between his two former clubs ended in a 2-0 defeat with Newcastle's forwards left to ponder what might have been.
A Solano ping into the box would not have gone amiss against Villa that's for sure.
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