Craig Hope answers big questions on Saudis, summer exits, Bruno, budgets & Ashworth

by Olly Hawkins · 22 March 2024, 13:30

In his latest piece for The Mail, North-East reporter Craig Hope has been discussing all things Newcastle United as we move towards the season finale and what promises to be a huge summer for the club.

He discusses Eddie Howe's future if we miss out on Europe, reveals that Monaco's Paul Mitchell is the 'early frontrunner' to replace Dan Ashworth, and describes it as a '50-50' whether Bruno Guimaraes stay this summer, with Man City and PSG both keen.

Hope feels it's more likely Joelinton fails to sign a new deal, calling it '40-60' as things stand, and believes there's a chance both Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson leave this summer, with a transfer budget of £150m-plus unlikely unless we sell.

He adds that the Saudi PIF remain committed to Newcastle and are not losing patience at the FFP struggles holding back our progress, while an expansion of St James' Park or potential new stadium won't be decided until ongoing feasibility studies are complete.

Here's what he had to say in full, revealing that Ashworth was privately frustrated that all decisions were 'process driven' and must be signed off by the Saudis before Newcastle could act:

'Will Howe survive if finishing outside the European places? The word is that he will - and so he should - but no-one knows what Riyadh is thinking. Who replaces Ashworth as sporting director? Paul Mitchell is the early frontrunner, but the process is being handled externally by a recruitment firm. They did the same with Ashworth, and look how that ended.

'Will Bruno stay? That’s 50-50. Man City and PSG are watching. Will Joelinton sign a new contract? You’d go 40-60 in favour of not. If he doesn’t, he’d be sold. Will Kieran Trippier leave this summer? There’s a chance, yes. Will Callum Wilson go? Probably. Will there be a £150m+ transfer budget? Not if they don’t sell. There’s also £28m leaving the door on July 1 for Chelsea loanee Hall, a player Howe does not yet trust in his first-team. That signing has baffled fans.

'Will the Saudis get impatient and lose interest? No, we are told. To that end, are there plans to expand St James’ or build a new stadium? Not yet. ‘Feasibility studies’ are ongoing. A new training ground? The same applies here. Part of Ashworth’s frustration, sources claim, is that all decisions were ‘process driven’ and go back to Riyadh. Maybe the tail was too weighty for him, too?'