A big summer lies in wait on Tyneside with Eddie Howe facing up to the prospect of cutting his wage bill
Newcastle United Head Coach Eddie Howe (Image: 2026 Newcastle United)
Eddie Howe is bracing himself for some emotional farewells this summer with up to eight stars leaving St James’ Park.
With no European football on the menu next season, history is in danger of repeating itself for Howe with his budget set to be cut behind the scenes. In 2024, Howe wanted to hand Paul Dummett and Matt Ritchie new deals as squad players but the club’s seventh place position, and crucially no Europe, ended hopes of retaining two big characters behind the scenes.
Only one exit has so far been confirmed with Kieran Trippier announcing this will be his final efforts for the Magpies after four years on Tyneside. Trippier’s contract is up and all parties have decided to part ways ahead of the summer.
It is believed that veteran defender Emil Krafth – out since November with a knee injury – will also depart this summer as he also comes to the end of his current deal. Fabian Schar, also out injured, may be leaving too with no sign of an extension and the chances of a free transfer increasing by the day.
Squad goalkeepers John Ruddy and Mark Gillespie make up the out of contract exits that could take place in the next few weeks. Howe faces a meeting with PIF next week and in it financial chief Simon Capper will also present the club’s roadmap out of trouble as far as SCR is concerned.
CEO David Hopkinson has already been clear with supporters and warned that big-names could have to be sold in order to facilitate incoming business. With no denials from the top at St James’ Park on Anthony Gordon being made available for £75m, the Scouser could be the first to be sold to Bayern Munich this summer.
Newcastle United goalkeeper John Ruddy (centre left) and Lewis Hall (Image: Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Howe will be left sweating on further possible exits for Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Tino Livramento. When asked on players leaving St James’ Park, Howe said last week: “There’s a few players out of contract and you’ve got some big players who have done amazing things for the club maybe entering their final few months of their time here.
“You’ve got possibly players leaving in the summer and that natural evolution on that side, which happens at a football club. So, I can understand why the ‘end of a cycle’ might be used.
“What that looks like is unknown. It’s always unknown. It’s almost impossible to predict a summer transfer window.”
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