Once a week (mostly) for an hour during the Premier League season, The Athletic’s Newcastle United subscribers can ask our writers covering the club for their views and insight into what’s happening at St James’ Park.
Here, we have pulled together some of their questions and our answers from Monday’s edition of our Inside Newcastle live Q&A, which included queries about whether Sean Longstaff may be sold in January, reports linking Sandro Tonali with a move back to Italy and why Odysseas Vlachodimos is not seeing game time.
Want to ask us anything Newcastle-related? With Newcastle facing Manchester United at Old Trafford next week, Chris Waugh will be back next Monday, January 6, 2025, at 2pm GMT (9am ET) for another session.
I saw claims Newcastle are open (even actively trying) to sell Sean Longstaff. Does that match what you’ve heard? — Rob M
Chris Waugh: Actively trying to sell him may be a stretch, but Newcastle are in a position regarding the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) whereby they would simply have to consider decent offers for Longstaff.
The club have exercised a 12-month extension in his deal, which means Longstaff is contracted until 2026, but they did that to protect his value as much as anything else, with talks surrounding a fresh deal failing to reach a positive conclusion yet. Instead, all parties accept that, in the medium term, his future is increasingly looking like it may be away from St James’ Park.
At 27, Longstaff wants regular first-team football and, while he is getting that at the moment, he is no longer first choice, and has dropped below Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and even Joe Willock in the pecking order.
(Harriet Massey/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
As Newcastle look to evolve, they are likely to desire a more technically gifted midfielder than Longstaff, despite his admirable traits and how much more solid the team can look when he plays. What’s more, there is a recognition from some at the club that Lewis Miley needs to see more regular game time in the not-too-distant future, and the 18-year-old may usurp Longstaff in the selection hierarchy.
Most importantly, however, Newcastle have to become better sellers and, rather than lose a star name, if they start to bring in money for other squad members then it will allow them to reinvest more going forward. As an academy graduate, Longstaff represents ‘pure profit’, meaning Newcastle can bank all of that cash in their accounts, freeing up decent capacity to spend.
Eddie Howe values Longstaff and would love to keep him around but, whether in January or next summer, there is at least a reasonable prospect of the midfielder departing for all of the reasons listed. Losing another homegrown player is far from ideal — Howe also recognises the value of having Geordies within his squad — but PSR makes this an unideal situation.
When are we going to see some Scrooge-like ruthlessness? Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson, Miguel Almiron, Martin Dubravka, Matt Targett, John Ruddy and Mark Gillespie must go! — Dan B
Waugh: The January narrative will be dominated by outgoings, largely surrounding the players you mention, and some are highly likely to depart.
Almiron is attracting interest from MLS and South America, while Dubravka is wanted by Saudi Pro League side Al Shabab. Yet Howe insists Newcastle will not countenance the Slovakia international’s exit until Nick Pope returns from injury. Even then, Howe would ideally like to sign another goalkeeper to replace Dubravka, but that may not be possible.
Trippier’s situation is more complex. The right-back still desires a fresh challenge, having wanted to leave during the summer, and getting his significant wages off the books would be beneficial. However, he remains a key voice within the dressing room and Howe values his experience and quality. Wilson’s hamstring injury has pretty much ended any prospect of the striker leaving mid-season.
(George Wood/Getty Images)
When it comes to Targett and other fringe players, there have to be suitors, and Newcastle have struggled to find takers in recent windows, especially those who are willing to match their present wages.
Howe actually wants players like Ruddy and Gillespie around, especially in the goalkeeping department, experienced figures who drive standards off the field despite not expecting to play. Having two of that type might be unnecessary but Gillespie’s salary is hardly PSR-busting.
One or two of those players will probably go in January, but there will not be a mass clearout. Howe cannot afford for one, either, given he does not have great depth.
Do you know what the situation is with Odysseas Vlachodimos? — Sepand L
Waugh: It is a very strange case with Vlachodimos, so much so that we explored this theme in an in-depth read in September. Newcastle paid £20million ($25.1m) to sign the Greece international from Nottingham Forest, making him their most expensive goalkeeper ever, yet he is third choice behind Pope and Dubravka.
Vlachodimos was a PSR-initiated deal to facilitate Elliot Anderson’s £35m transfer to Forest and ensure Newcastle were compliant by the June 30 deadline. Vlachodimos is not someone Newcastle were actively scouting before that and it is highly unlikely he would have been signed had the Anderson situation not arisen.
Seemingly, however, he has failed to convince Howe that he can challenge Dubravka for the deputy goalkeeper position, never mind Pope for the starting spot. That is why Howe is loath to lose Dubravka without a replacement because, if that is how he views Vlachodimos in the pecking order, then he will feel his bench is at the very least being weakened.
(Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)
Given Pope has missed chunks of the past two seasons with injuries, his backup is likely to get game time, and Howe ideally wants a goalkeeper he can trust. Vlachodimos may yet earn such faith, given he is Greece’s No 1 and clearly has strong pedigree, but he has seemingly been unable to do so.
That is why there is still a long-term interest in Burnley’s James Trafford.
Any chance the club can publicly say that they wouldn’t consider selling Alexander Isak for less than £150m? — William P
Waugh: I would not get your hopes up about a public utterance on the matter from anyone beyond Howe. Darren Eales, the CEO, may speak in January if Newcastle release their accounts, as they did this year, but that may be it for executive-level remarks throughout the month.
It is also not necessarily in their interests to put that out there. Newcastle have no intention of selling Isak mid-season and have not received a bid for the Sweden international, so responding to unsubstantiated speculation merely fuels that and, counterintuitively, could even suggest to potential suitors that they would consider a sale.
Plus, if Newcastle take that stance, but then a substantial offer short of that figure arrives and Isak pushes to leave, they may be forced into a position whereby they have to actually seriously consider it. Isak has not asked to leave and Howe is adamant he is happy at Newcastle, but I am just offering up a hypothetical.
(Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Howe has stated that he does not fear Isak leaving in January and senior figures inside the club have echoed that sentiment in private. The summer may be a different matter, especially if Newcastle fail to qualify for Europe, but the club are determined to keep hold of the 25-year-old in January.
Are we looking beyond right-winger in this window? — Michael S
Waugh: Right wing is the most likely position Newcastle will strengthen in this January, followed by right-sided centre-back, given they are the two areas of the team that have not actually been reinforced post-takeover. A goalkeeper, such as Trafford, may arrive if Dubravka leaves, although the noises are that the Slovakia international may not be replaced mid-season.
But (and sorry to be the bearer of negative news) there is a strong possibility that Newcastle do not sign anyone at all next month. PSR-wise, it may be in the club’s long-term interests financially to avoid spending this month if they can.
The hierarchy stress they will bring in a signing if it is someone who genuinely strengthens the team and is available at a price that does not put them into a difficult PSR position before June 30, but the expectation at this stage is that Newcastle will be quiet on the incomings front.
Tonali has been linked with a move back to Italy in January. Is there any truth in this? — Sanjeev H
Waugh: The reports emerged in Italy but they have been played down by Newcastle and by Howe. Tonali’s performances, too, do not suggest he is distracted by the links, which were written with a stronger tone when the Italy international was on the bench and before he was being deployed regularly in the No 6 role.
The 24-year-old was someone Howe was desperate to sign in 2022 and, while Tonali’s subsequent 10-month ban has stunted his integration somewhat, the midfielder is now starting to blossom. He has taken on greater responsibility as the nominal No 6, dovetailing and interchanging expertly with Bruno Guimaraes, who has shifted to right-sided No 8, and their understanding of their respective intricate and detailed roles is growing.
Newcastle have no intention of losing Tonali next month and, even if this reported interest is genuine, which Serie A club has the finances to actually pay a significant fee for him and to match the midfielder’s wages? PSR-wise, Newcastle would need a figure in excess of £40m to even break even on Tonali, and most Italian clubs are not exactly flush with cash.
So if not quite a non-starter, this is not far off being one.
Do you feel January will be the first real test of Paul Mitchell’s ability in the market? — Miles B
Waugh: January is a real test of Mitchell’s relationship with Howe. There has been little-to-no tension since Mitchell’s interview in September but, under the stress and strain of a window when the head coach will want to sign players and the sporting director is going to be looking to move others on, it will be interesting to see how they get along day to day. Difficult decisions have to be made and that always puts a strain on a relationship.
(Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
When it comes to Mitchell’s ability in the market, next summer and the windows beyond will be more informative. Newcastle’s PSR constraints mean that he cannot really conduct much surgery at all mid-season, never mind oversee a substantial overhaul. Next summer, Newcastle may well have to sell one of their star players, and how that money is invested will be Mitchell’s responsibility.
Mitchell is widening the geographical landscape from where Newcastle recruit and he is looking to bring in younger players with greater sell-on potential, but that is likely to be seen more clearly from the summer onwards.
(Michael Regan/Getty Images)
