The Premier League season is upon us and Newcastle United have a challenging year in store.
Newcastle United looked primed to take the next step and establish themselves among the Premier League elites after securing Champions League football last season, but the transfer window hasn’t gone to plan.
Eddie Howe has been hamstrung at every turn, with Newcastle unable to secure several top targets and star striker Alexander Isak trying to force through a move to Liverpool.
There finally appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel, though, as Newcastle signed Malick Thiaw from AC Milan this week and are closing in on Jacob Ramsey and Yoane Wissa.
How much Newcastle manage to salvage the transfer window will go a long way in determining how they fare on four different fronts next season.
Newcastle learned how difficult juggling European and domestic football is two years ago and still need to improve the squad to ensure they can cope with an even longer Champions League this time around.
Geordie Boot Boys writers have given their predictions for the season to come.
- Newcastle United key dates for 2025-26 season: Transfer window, Champions League & Premier League fixtures
Liam Brusby
It has been a very tough summer for Newcastle, but I do not think it will have too much of an impact on the field.
New signings like Anthony Elanga and Malick Thiaw are quality players who immediately improve Eddie Howe’s starting XI, and I have a lot of confidence that they can hit the ground running for the Magpies.
It will not be Champions League qualification like last season, but I still believe Newcastle can qualify for the Europa League, even without Alexander Isak.
- Premier League: 6th
- Champions League: Knock-out play-off
- FA Cup: Winners
- Carabao Cup: Fourth round
James Rutherford
Amid the lack of signings and the Alexander Isak debacle, it is easy to forget what an incredible team Newcastle United are under Eddie Howe.
What they did last season was special, while efforts are being made to strengthen the squad. Aaron Ramsdale, Anthony Elanga and Malick Thiaw all do that.
The added pressure of being in the Champions League will make things more challenging for the Magpies, but they should be better placed to cope – unless their rotten injury luck returns.
The main concern is who will score the goals, with the Isak situation still unresolved.
- Premier League: 6th
- Champions League: Quarter-final
- FA Cup: Quarter-final
- Carabao Cup: Quarter-final
Jonathan Gorrie
Newcastle do have issues going into the season but depth increasingly looks as if it won’t be an issue, with the obvious caveat of the striker problem aside.
If Alexander Isak stays and Yoane Wissa has brought in, there’s little reason to think Newcastle will struggle next season
They will have more compelling options up front following the addition of Anthony Elanga too and Wissa would prove a major update on the version of Callum Wilson fans saw last season.
Malick Thiaw and Jacob Ramsey offer further depth, as does Aaron Ramsdale.
Newcastle’s issue wasn’t their first team. It was the option behind it. This summer, they’ve addressed that (clearly, things could change regarding the Isak saga) and look set up to fight across a number of fronts.
Aston Villa proved last season that the new Champions League format can be beneficial.
Newcastle are taking experience into their European campaign and have every reason to be optimistic about making it through on the expanded League phase table.
What happens from there is a bonus. It would be foolish to suggest they can suddenly go very deep but, pending a favourable draw, they could at least make it back into European knock-out football.
- Premier League: 6th
- Champions League: Last 16
- FA Cup: Semi-final
- Carabao Cup: Quarter-final
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