According to Newcastle United correspondent Lee Ryder, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has given Eddie Howe the green light to bring in up to five new players this summer, but the club must offset costs through player sales and squad adjustments.
Newcastle’s hierarchy has already begun contacting player agents, aiming to finalize a shortlist of transfer targets before the summer window opens next month.
In an interview with beIN Sports, Howe admitted that the club is prepared for a major squad overhaul this summer, and his tactical planning has long been focused on rebuilding for the future.
The club’s departure list is not yet finalized: Anthony Gordon is likely to leave, while one of Sandro Tonali, Tino Livramento, or Bruno Guimarães could also be sold.
Howe has made it clear that he wants to remain in charge for the 2026/27 season and lead the rebuild. The team urgently needs reinforcements in four positions: a new goalkeeper, a starting striker, a center-back, and a backup full-back.
It remains to be seen whether Newcastle can complete five permanent signings in one window like last summer. However, with several high earners approaching the end of their contracts and some players set to leave on free transfers, the club’s wage bill will be freed up, boosting the transfer budget.
At Sunday’s post-match press conference, Howe publicly praised Jacob Ramsey, stating that the midfielder will become a key player next season. This has sparked speculation that a major sale could happen in midfield to raise funds.
Newcastle has already established a “sell-to-buy” transfer policy. Tonali is reportedly on the radar of both Manchester City and Manchester United.
After his loan spell ends, Aaron Ramsdale is expected to return to Southampton. Goalkeeper Nick Pope’s future is also uncertain, with rumors linking him to Leeds United. It is widely known that Newcastle tried to sign goalkeeper James Trafford last summer but were beaten at the last minute.
Now, the transfer fee for Trafford has exceeded £40 million. However, the signing would be significant: Trafford is seen as the long-term successor to England’s Jordan Pickford and has been named in the World Cup squad. His wages would not be an issue for Newcastle, and the player was interested in joining the club last summer.
With Kieran Trippier set to leave and Fabian Schär’s contract extension negotiations dragging on for six months without resolution, Newcastle’s defense will have significant gaps as pre-season begins.
Howe plans to keep both Callum Wilson and Chris Wood, but the club’s need for a consistent, proven top-level striker is an open secret. Newcastle has dropped 27 points from winning positions this season, not only due to defensive fragility but also a lack of finishing power to close out games.
West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen has been linked with a £60 million move to Newcastle. However, with Anthony Elanga and Jacob Murphy already in the squad, Howe would likely need to sell one of them to justify such a high outlay. While the transfer isn’t impossible, PIF prefers to sign young, high-potential players, so Bowen’s arrival would require convincing the board.
Sporting Director Ross Wilson is leading all transfer negotiations, and Howe has made his demands clear: to rebuild Newcastle into a top-half Premier League side capable of challenging for European places again.