[Newcastle United](https://readnewcastle.com/2026/08/21/sky-sport-man-drops-christopher-nkunku-update-newcastle-united-talks/) have not been able to pull off any headline-grabbing signing so far this summer. Right now, they are being linked with a couple of high-profile names though.
Christopher Nkunku will be leaving AC Milan. It is said that Newcastle United have already made contact, trying to sign the French international.
On the other hand, it has also been claimed that Nico Gonzalez has been told by Manchester City that he can leave this summer. Newcastle United are amongst the clubs interest in the Spaniard.
Those two are players proven at the senior level. It remains to be seen if the Magpies can sign them. But on the other hand, it appears that their next signing is going to be another youngster.
According to [Resat Can Ozbudak](https://x.com/resatcan_ozbdak/status/2090711249239548416), Ousmane Diabate has signed the official contract with Newcastle United. The transfer is complete.
Of course, he is going to be spending the season on loan at his current club in order to continue his development instead of moving to Newcastle immediately.
As a result, we won’t see him in a Newcastle United shirt anytime soon. Ozbudak claims that Diabate is returning to Turkey. He will be on the field for Genclerbirligi’s match on Sunday.
Obviously, Diabate is viewed as a signing for the future. We can only hope that his development goes well moving forward and he meets the expectations Newcastle United have of him.
But on the other hand, they need to add some proven quality to their own senior ranks as soon as possible. The team is not in a position to seriously compete right now.
There is a possibility that they might find themselves dragged into a relegation battle if they are not careful. To some, that might seem like hyperbole. Perhaps it is, perhaps not.
But even if that does not come to that and Newcastle United do not end up in a relegation struggle, would another bottom half finish satisfy the supporters?
I do not think so. Yet, based on the squad they have and the pre-season results, it is hard to imagine that this current version of Newcastle can do much better than what they achieved last season.
It was a 12th-place finish in the Premier League. They have lost players like Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon from that squad on top of that.