Eddie Howe has made a bold Newcastle United decision – and I’m backing it 100%

What Newcastle need to do for Champions League qualification after Man City win
Jack Flintham
3 minutes

Newcastle United’s task to gain Champions League football next season remains largely unchanged despite Manchester City leapfrogging them in the Premier League table on Tuesday night.

On a poignant night at the Etihad Stadium with Kevin De Bruyne playing his last match for the club, City put in a professional display against AFC Bournemouth to put themselves within touching distance of the Champions League. Omar Marmoush got the Blues off to a flyer with a superb long-range effort before intricate play was capped off by Bernardo Silva.

De Bruyne missed a golden chance to wrap up his last home appearance with a goal but the result was never in much doubt. Mateo Kovacic was sent off with just over 20 minutes remaining after a tactical foul which in turn spelt the end of De Bruyne’s night as he was substituted.

Both teams would end the match with ten players after Lewis Cook’s forceful challenge moments later earned him a straight red card too. With the two sides level on the pitch, Nico Gonzalez bagged his first Premier League goal to seal the three points despite the away side’s late consolation from Daniel Jebbison.

The result moved City up to third and above Newcastle to 68 points. For the Magpies, the task at hand against Everton in the Premier League is simple – win and they will qualify for the Champions League.

Fifth-placed Chelsea could finish above Newcastle even if Eddie Howe’s side win, but they would need to beat Nottingham Forest by a scoreline that was more than the three better than United’s effort. Aston Villa could theoretically pass Newcastle if both teams win but that would require an unprecedented goal swing in Unai Emery’s side’s favour.

If Newcastle do not win, then a nervous wait will begin for the Magpies. Howe’s men will only remain in the top five if they draw and Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea ends in a draw or if there is a winner at the City Ground, and Villa fail to win.

Should the unthinkable happen and Newcastle lose to Everton, they will remain in the top five if Villa lose to Manchester United. Any other result at Old Trafford and Newcastle would drop out of the top five.

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Eddie Howe’s ‘top target’ at Newcastle United has been revealed – it’s not Bryan Mbeumo
Liam Brusby
4 – 5 minutes

Newcastle United are keen to sign Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo this summer, but he is not their top target.

The Magpies are set for a busy summer transfer window thanks to positive financial accounts and European qualification already secured.

Newcastle United’s right-wing options were severely reduced during the 2024/25 campaign. Yankuba Minteh joined Brighton last summer while Miguel Almiron completed his return to Atlanta United during the January transfer window.

Mbeumo is Eddie Howe’s ‘dream’ signing thanks to his spectacular attacking returns in the Premier League this season.

The 25-year-old has scored 18 goals and bagged six assists in 35 league games for Brentford and could still help them qualify for Europe this season.

With lots of speculation over his future, Christian Norgaard thinks Mbeumo will leave Brentford this summer. While his future at Brentford has not been confirmed, Mbeumo said he loves playing at St James’ Park. Newcastle fans could see him at the ground much more often if things go their way in the transfer market.

While Newcastle remain keen on signing Mbeumo, a new transfer report has revealed who the Magpies’ actual top target is.

READ MORE – What Newcastle United staff have privately been saying about facing Chelsea this weekend

Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Newcastle United still desperate to land Marc Guehi

Newcastle were embarrassed in their pursuit of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi in 2024.

The deal left sporting director Paul Mitchell frustrated because he could not bring a marquee player to Tyneside in his first couple of months in the role. However, he has the chance to redeem himself this summer.

Guehi is expected to leave Crystal Palace at the end of the season. The Eagles are happy to cash in on the England international who only has one year left on his contract. Despite the well-publicised transfer saga in 2024, Newcastle United still want to sign Guehi and will compete with Chelsea to get a deal over the line.

According to Sun Sport, Guehi is Howe’s top target this summer despite his desire to land Mbeumo.

The report states that Howe is ‘desperate’ to beef up his defence ahead of next season to push further up the Premier League table and make a good impression in Europe.

It is believed that Guehi will cost Newcastle less than £50m this summer, significantly less than the £70m transfer offer rejected by Palace in 2024.

The report also states that long-term Newcastle target Jonathan Tah is keen on a move to the Premier League, but he is likely to sign for German giants Bayern Munich on a free transfer instead.

READ MORE – Favourites to sign Liam Delap right now named out of Newcastle United and Chelsea

Newcastle United must learn from mistakes after failed Marc Guehi move in 2024

It was no secret that Newcastle wanted to sign a centre-back in the 2024 summer transfer window. Ultimately, Guehi stayed at Palace and has helped them to the FA Cup final this season.

This summer, it is important that Newcastle keep their transfer business private to increase their chances of signing top targets.

READ MORE – How much Newcastle United can spend on a marquee signing after Lloyd Kelly exit

Newcastle are in a position where they can spend well in the summer. It is believed that Newcastle can afford a £70m signing, but it remains to be seen whether they can bring both Guehi and Mbeumo to Tyneside.

With a big summer ahead, Newcastle fans expect new arrivals to hit the ground running in the 2025/26 campaign.

Joelinton’s absence is a body blow for a Champions League-chasing Newcastle United but thankfully Eddie Howe has three midfielders in reserve, each equally itching for their shot in the first-team once again. Joe Willock was the fortunate body to be given the nod last weekend against Ipswich Town, with Lewis Miley and Sean Longstaff resigned to the bench from the outset.

Willock will be the first to admit he failed to take his shot in the comfortable St James’ Park win, with Howe admitting the player will be all the better for his recent run out. The general consensus is that the ex-Arsenal man will indeed return to his former self with the help of regular appearances – an opinion Howe himself is publicly echoing.

There is equally significant clamour for Miley to be given his shot in this team. The 19-year-old, who was so impressive when breaking into the side, has been restricted to just one Premier League start this term – with interest growing in his signature.
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Howe insists the teen is ‘pivotal’ to the direction of travel on Tyneside but for now, it appears, he will end the campaign as a bit-part player before waiting for the chance to impress in pre-season.

Howe has made his decision – a bold one leaving Miley out – and I, for one, back it. Short memories aside, Willock still has a part to play in this team. He has shown, earlier this season in cup games against Arsenal and Chelsea particularly, he can flourish on the left-side of this United midfield.

The 25-year-old is the definition of his confidence player; one who feeds off momentum. He is the biggest goal threat of the three midfielders in reserve and there was clear frustration at times when his attacking exploits yielded nothing against the Tractor Boys last time out.
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There will be hunger to put those wrongs right in the coming weeks. “We still have a lot of faith in Joe and I think he’s a like-for-like replacement [for Joelinton] really,” Howe told reporters this week.

“He does a lot of his best work on the left hand side of the pitch as Joelinton does. For me he’s got goalscoring instincts, he’s a very attack-minded player, very quick and athletic, a really good ball carrier.

“Let’s not forget Joe’s had some important contributions this season, most notably really in the Carabao Cup, where he scored some big goals for us. But also my mind goes back to the Arsenal game, at the Emirates, where I thought he was excellent that day, so no doubting his quality, yes, probably needs to feel that run of games to be at his very best. Hopefully he can show that.”

Willock has four games to stamp his authority on this side, remind those with short memories of his place in this side and keep Miley from stealing his spot in this side. I’m backing the Toon star to come good at the business end of the campaign.