Paul Mitchell's two transfer plans go public as Newcastle identify summer strategy
Champions League football is by no means secure for Newcastle United next season, but it feels like we took one major step towards achieving our end-of-season goals on Sunday.
That 2-0 win over Chelsea was huge, meaning we'll be playing in Europe's elite competition across 2025/26 should we pick up one more win over our final two games against Arsenal and Everton.
Where we end up could have a big say on who we attract this summer, as highlighted in a recent report on the transfer plans bubbling away behind the scenes...
Paul Mitchell's transfer focus revealed?
In a recent piece from Mark Douglas at the i, the North East reporter shares some of the early noises coming from Newcastle ahead of what promises to be a huge summer window.
He reports that a major part of the club's transfer discussions have centred around bulking up Eddie Howe's squad, realising greater strength in depth will be needed to cope with European football next season.
An injury crisis derailed our ability to compete on four fronts last term and it seems the club have learnt from that, although it's thought Paul Mitchell has also been tasked to lower the average age of the squad.
These two factors are thought to be the 'driving forces' behind a potential squad overhaul, with the ageing defence set to be addressed now much of Fabian Schar, Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn and Jamaal Lascelles are well into their 30s.
Two plans being worked on
Douglas also reports that Mitchell currently has two transfer plans in mind, with our direction likely to be decided by our Champions League fate.
Should we seal a top-five finish, we’re expected to ‘press the button’ on certain targets we believe would be tempted by a move to Tyneside and the opportunity to play in Europe’s top competition.
However, there is an acceptance that certain ‘top targets’ would not sign without this and preparations behind the scenes to move for other options should we miss out.
While names are not mentioned by the i, it’s been suggested previously that Newcastle may need the lure of Champions League football to land £50m centre-back Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth, with our seemingly slim chances of beating Man Utd to Matheus Cunha also likely to be UCL-dependant.
