Newcastle United preparing for transformational summer ahead of Premier League and Champions League ambitions

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Daniel Wales analyses what Newcastle United will be aiming to do in the summer transfer window.

Transcript

00:00Now, Newcastle United's summer strategy in the market this year

00:05is obviously a bit unclear.

00:08Obviously, the likes of the PSR space to be cleared

00:12and then balancing youth and experience, you know,

00:16and then prioritising targets as well.

00:19And obviously, there are a number of names that Newcastle

00:22have been linked with, especially in January as well.

00:24And last summer as well, they might rekindle their interest.

00:28Obviously, back in the Champions League,

00:29so it's another huge window to get right.

00:32It's another window where, you know, the Champions League season,

00:35a couple of seasons ago, they maybe fell short because of squad depth.

00:39They didn't have enough players to carry them on

00:40and get that high league finish again and return to the Champions League.

00:44Now, there's certainly a goal and it's going to be to enjoy, yes,

00:48you know, completely enjoy, again, being in the elite level of European football.

00:53But then can you retain it? Can you get back in there again?

00:56We saw the same with Aston Villa and they fell short

00:59and they'll be competing in the Europa Conference.

01:01So that is some drop next season.

01:04Can this be a chance for Newcastle to invest massively this summer?

01:10How do they go about it?

01:11How do they navigate with PSR and the likes of that,

01:15which obviously doesn't affect some of the other clubs in the league?

01:19But that's a whole other topic.

01:20Dan, our North East correspondent.

01:22Dan, just talk to us a bit about Newcastle's situation ahead of this summer window,

01:27where they go, their sort of strategies to navigate it,

01:31and how important is it that they do get the squad depth correct ahead of the new campaign?

01:37Well, Charles, for Newcastle United, we've said for a long time that this is a crucial summer transfer window.

01:43Of course, they haven't really spent any money or anyone of significance in

01:47for the past three transfer windows combined.

01:50You could argue, well, William Asula, £15 million roughly, from Sheffield United last summer.

01:56And Lloyd Kelly on a free from Bournemouth.

01:57But of course, Lloyd Kelly has now left the club as well permanently to Juventus.

02:02And of course, they lost Miguel Almaron back to Atlanta United in America.

02:08So Newcastle haven't strengthened for some time because of their PSR worries and issues.

02:14So certainly this summer, as we mentioned, will be a crucial summer just for increasing that depth.

02:19Because at times last season, after they'd gone on those such good runs of form,

02:24they'd then come crashing down to earth with quite a bump,

02:27often quite a heavy loss every so often after they'd been on these runs.

02:30And that was probably down to the squad depth and the lack of rotation they'd had at times

02:35during those winning runs eventually that the players just became tired and weary eventually

02:39after playing so much and putting so much into the wins and games that had come before.

02:44So it's trying to think the squad is really important because, of course,

02:47they've got the Champions League to come this season.

02:49So they're playing on four fronts, if you can, both domestic cups as well,

02:52as well as the Premier League.

02:54And of course, the last time they were in the Champions League,

02:56they suffered terribly with injuries.

02:58So they need to make sure that this doesn't happen again this time round.

03:03Of course, the talk of the moment is Jao Pedro from Brighton,

03:06a £60 million move being mooted for the attacking midfielder or forward,

03:11however you want to categorise him.

03:13And certainly someone who, at least when you first view it,

03:18would be someone who seemingly doesn't fit into Newcastle's current formation of 4-3-3

03:22because you've got Alexander Ezek and then you've got two wingers

03:24and then three more midfielders, whereas Jao Pedro is more of perhaps that versatile number 10.

03:28He can't play on the wings, but he could sit more in behind the striker

03:31or go alongside the striker.

03:32So that could suggest a change in formation from Eddie Howe and his side,

03:39which, to be fair, again, it also could play into the rotational side

03:42because Newcastle will perhaps need to change their formation and rotate

03:46depending on their opposition or what competition they're playing in.

03:49Because, of course, teams who play in a deep system and a deep formation against Newcastle

03:54to try and be containing and contain Newcastle,

03:58then Newcastle struggle with breaking that down often.

04:03And perhaps someone like Jao Pedro could be the key to unlocking those defences,

04:07whereas Newcastle might revert back to the old 4-4-3

04:09when it comes to teams who are perhaps more willing to be a bit more open.

04:12And that's when the likes of Anthony Alang of Nottingham Forest come into the picture

04:15as a right winger with a lot of pace.

04:17At the right, of course, Jacob Murphy did really well last season,

04:20but they need some depth, especially now that Newcastle is no longer out of the club.

04:24And you've got Harley Barnes and Anthony Gordon,

04:25who are more predominantly left-wingers.

04:27Yes, you could play on either side, but they both prefer to be on the left.

04:31The other, of course, look at centre-half,

04:33someone to go alongside Sven Bodman after he's hopefully had a full pre-season.

04:37And then goalkeeper, as well as important,

04:39with James Trappard still being mooted from Burnley

04:41as a potential competition for Nick Pope.

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