Newcastle United are on course to stay in the Premier League come the end of the season.
Last Friday’s big win over Wolves has moved the club 10 points clear of the relegation zone, and it would take a serious capitulation for Newcastle to slip into the Championship from here.
No team in Premier League history has gone down with Newcastle’s current tally of 34 points from 31 games.
So it bodes well, and fans are very much anticipating an eventful first summer transfer window under the new owners.
Countless players have been linked with the club since the takeover went through back in October.
And it’s going to be very exciting to see who actually does come through the door.
Some fans might need to tailor their expectations a little. It’s obviously still very early days so the Erling Haalands and Kylian Mbappes of the world won’t be gracing St. James’ Park just yet.
But fresh faces are a certainty, and here’s how Newcastle’s starting XI might look based off some of the links there has been over the past months.
Goalkeeper – Dean Henderson
Henderson is likely to leave Manchester United this summer having slipped back behind David De Gea in the Old Trafford pecking order.
Martin Dubravka is great stopper. He could easily do another season for the Magpies.
But the owners may want to move to bring in somebody a bit younger. Henderson was excellent at times last season, and the one-cap England international would make a great long-term addition.
He was linked earlier this year.
Defence – Kieran Trippier, Nico Schlotterbeck, Dan Burn, Matt Targett
Newcastle moved to significantly strengthen their defence in January by signing Trippier, Targett and Burn.
All three have improved the Magpies’ backline, and are probably good bets to be lining up as Howe’s starting defenders for 2022/23.
Fabian Schar has done well under Howe, but he is perhaps vulnerable to losing his starter status.
Newcastle have been linked with Freiburg’s Nico Schlotterbeck in recent weeks.
The talented young German recently admitted that it was ‘very likely’ he could change clubs this summer.
He is certainly a name to remember, with Sven Botman looking like he’ll head to AC Milan.
Midfield – Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Jesse Lingard
Bruno Guimaraes has seriously impressed since his January arrival from Lyon and is probably going to be the first name on the teamsheet next season.
Joelinton’s emergence as a midfielder this season has been nothing short of remarkable. And it’s something Eddie Howe is likely to stick with moving forwards.
Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Willock have also done brilliantly this calendar year. But it’s possible we could see a new face in the midfield for next season.
He’ll be a free agent in the summer and it would be a shock if Newcastle did not move for him.
There are obviously more eye-catching deals to be done. But it’s about carefully building a competitive Premier league squad. Lingard has a lot of experience and we all saw what he did whilst on loan at West Ham United.
Attack – Arnaut Danjuma, Hugo Ekitike, Allan Saint-Maximin
Danjuma was linked with Newcastle recently, and Howe’s former winger at Bournemouth recently suggested he misses the Premier League.
He’s in fine fettle with Villarreal currently and would be expensive. But perhaps Newcastle will seek to reunite Danjuma with Howe.
He’s a much improved player now than when the pair last worked together.
Like Lingard, Hugo Ekitike was a player Newcastle tried to land in January. The timing just wasn’t right for the player in the end. But it’s possible the Magpies could try to sign the Reims ace again this summer.
And finally, Allan Saint-Maximin’s future has been heavily discussed over the past couple of weeks.
Howe says he has a long-term future at the club, and it seems ludicrous the club would look to offload him before trying to surround him with better quality players.
Newcastle 4-3-3: Henderson/Trippier, Schlotterbeck, Burn, Targett/Guimaraes, Joelinton, Lingard/Danjuma, Ekitike, Saint-Maximin.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
