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NUFC Daily: Howey on Tonali dilemma
A Champions League exit at the hands of Barcelona and a demoralising home defeat by arch-rivals Sunderland sent Newcastle into the international break at a low ebb.
Attention for Eddie Howe will now turn to a late push to qualify for any European football next season, with some questions about his future beginning to be asked.
Over the weekend, we want you to send in your questions on the Magpies for our Newcastle United reporter.
Use the link below and we'll put them to Ciaran Kelly. And come to the page next week to find his replies.
Football In 10 Years is a new series from BBC Sport that explores what the future of the beautiful game could look like by 2036.
Featuring technical innovations, new stadium designs, and discussions on what impact AI will have on coaching and watching football, the series investigates what the direction of travel looks like over the next decade.
BBC Sport has taken a trip to Malta to see an under-10s tournament featuring Newcastle United and Benfica.
They look at what challenges these players face in their quest to become professionals and whether the techniques and technologies for developing young talent are changing for the future.
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Newcastle United defender Steve Howey has told BBC Radio Newcastle it "would be disappointing" if Sandro Tonali was to leave the club this summer.
The Italy international has been with the Magpies since a £55m move from AC Milan in July 2023.
There were reports on Thursday of a "gentleman's agreement" being in place which could see Tonali leave for another club if the Magpies do not qualify for any European competition. Subsequently, outlets have reported that, in the club's view, no such arrangement exists.
The 25-year-old initially signed a five-year contract and extended his deal by a year while serving a 10-month ban, which started in October 2023, from the Italian Football Federation for breaching betting rules.
His new terms also included the Magpies having an option to trigger an additional 12-month extension to 2030.
"He's a top player and if the team got into any type of European competition then I would expect him to stop [at the club]," said Howey.
"I can also see why it's difficult [for him] because do you expect him to [stay] if Newcastle don't get Europe at all?"
Listen to the discussion on BBC Sounds
Newcastle United have earmarked 28-year-old Arsenal defender Ben White as a potential replacement for Kieran Trippier. (Sports Boom), external
In return, the Gunners are keen on Magpies forward Anthony Gordon. (Sky Sports), external
Manchester United will make a formal approach to Newcastle for midfielder Sandro Tonali at the end of the season. (Mail - subscription required), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column
Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent
Image source, Getty ImagesNewcastle United should have been awarded a penalty in their 1-0 win at Chelsea on 14 March, but it did not reach the threshold for a VAR intervention.
The Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel voted 4:1 that referee Paul Tierney should have pointed to the spot after Reece James held back Malick Thiaw.
However, it unanimously said that the VAR, Michael Salisbury, was right not to step in and tell the referee he had made a clear and obvious error.
The incident happened in the 34th minute with Newcastle already in the lead.
The KMI Panel noted that "James gets caught the wrong side and maintains contact".
It added that while both players were holding, "on balance the action of James was non-footballing and impactful".
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has the backing of the club, despite some unrest among fans following their Champions League exit to Barcelona and a defeat by rivals Sunderland. (Times - subscription required), external
Manchester United are looking at 19-year-old RB Leipzig and Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande, Newcastle United and England defender Lewis Hall, 21, and Everton and Senegal forward Iliman Ndiaye, 26, as they prepare for a likely return to European competition. (Sky Sports), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column
Former Newcastle United full-back John Anderson believes St James' Park is still "missing" Alexander Isak and says the transfer "saga" didn't help club matters in the summer transfer window either.
The Sweden international signed a six-year contract to join fellow Premier League side Liverpool for a British-record transfer fee of £125m in September 2025.
"I don't think anybody would disagree with the fact that we have missed Alexander Isak," Anderson told BBC Radio Newcastle. "He was pivotal to the way that we played.
"He scored 20-odd goals last season but not only did he score goals, he also created chances and made goals for others with his pace and the way he stood defenders up.
"The saga of trying to keep him dragged on too long. It didn't give the club time to get the players they wanted in.
"They tried to get people in but those players decided they wanted to go elsewhere, so instead we got Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa.
"But they are totally different players to Alexander Isak. He made things happen."
Charlotte Robson
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesI always find it difficult to write when Newcastle United have not played football at the weekend, and this week is no exception, because Newcastle United did not play football this weekend and so there is nothing for me to think or worry about!
Of course, the more I try to 'Men In Black' Sunday away, the more it comes screaming back at me.
Actually, I have been trying to forget the entire past week from a Newcastle United perspective. To enter into dialogue with it is to have to analyse where we are in relation to where we want to be - and the gulf between the two is widening.
Hosting Sunderland, after losing in December, was big. We needed to right the wrongs of the away fixture and other results at the weekend meant it was also an opportunity to challenge for the Champions League. We lost.
I am not going to spend my words here arguing for or against Eddie Howe. The problems we have at Newcastle are not only at his feet. Instead, I am going to verbally perambulate around the topic of what is going on with our players.
We used to laud our players for 'getting it', for understanding the region, the fixtures and what a cup win meant to us. On Sunday, it felt like they might have got it for about 15 minutes of the game and then they forgot it.
Why does it all unclick mid-game? This is not all on the management. It is possible that fatigue plays a part - they have played an extraordinary amount of football this season. To me, it looks closer to burnout.
A refresh is vital. There is anger after the past couple of fixtures. Thank goodness we have three weeks before our next game. It almost feels like the fans need it as much as the team.
Find more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external
Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter
Image source, Getty ImagesThe biggest game of the weekend was Newcastle v Sunderland - well, it was in the north east, anyway.
For all the passion, and there was plenty on show, as well as the usual late drama, in the end it was Sunderland winning to go 11th leaving their neighbours down in 12th.
For Sunderland it is still a fine season as a promoted side, but for Newcastle this is disappointing mid-table mediocrity following defeat in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup against Manchester City and in the Champions League against Barcelona.
The calls for Eddie Howe's head will grow, but I still think he should be given at least another season.
One without European football would look very different and probably more successful for his overstretched squad.
Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter
Manchester City and Manchester United want Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, although the former AC Milan player would prefer a return to his homeland. (Talksport), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent
There is no doubt that Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) have put the brakes on Newcastle.
It is why the Magpies support their replacement, Squad Cost Ratio (SCR), which comes in on 1 July. But will it reinforce the position of the elite?
The problem for the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has always been that it was too late to the party.
Whereas Chelsea and Manchester City were able to spend freely to build their empire, governing bodies now have the shackles on.
PSR was put in place in 2013, well before the Saudi takeover.
Though Manchester City do face 115 charges over alleged spending breaches between 2009 and 2018, which they deny.
PIF spent £404.7m in the first three years after buying the club in 2021.
But by bringing in only £50.4m from sales, the stark reality of PSR hit home in 2024.
Newcastle had to sell Elliot Anderson (£35m) to Nottingham Forest to help stave off a points deduction.
They lost a high-quality academy product, a lad from Whitley Bay who came through Wallsend Boys Club.
The 23-year-old is now an England regular and very likely to go to this summer's World Cup.
BBC Sport understands that Forest would want £80m should he be sold this year.
PSR focuses on limiting losses, but SCR is about income. In short, the more you generate, the more you can spend.
In the Premier League that will be 85%, though it is possible to spend as much as 115% in the first year and pay what is in effect a luxury tax.
On the surface, this sounds great. After all, Newcastle have recorded record revenues in each season under PIF.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire says that for the Magpies it made total sense.
"The pluses outweigh the minuses," Maguire told BBC Sport. "With having a bigger stadium, hoping to either expand the stadium or move, they see the longer-term benefits of SCR."
But once you look under the hood, you see that SCR might reinforce the financial dominance of the Premier League's established order.
Image source, PA MediaFormer England captain Wayne Rooney, speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show about Newcastle's derby loss to Sunderland and Magpies boss Eddie Howe: "I've heard it a few times now where they're booing and people questioning Howe. Howe is one of the best managers in the Premier League.
"You let emotions take over and you lose a game against Sunderland - I know they haven't been great in the league this season, they've had injuries and they've struggled to replace Alexander Isak's goals from last season - but just be careful what you wish for because, honestly, there's no doubt that he's a top manager."
On last summer's recruitment: "They [Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa] looked like panic buys, because they went for Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo.
"The ones they've brought in have not performed well. That's a lot of money and a lot of goals taken out of the team from last season.
"He's playing Anthony Gordon up front so they're missing him where he's dangerous from the left, although Harvey Barnes has done well.
"He seems to be putting players in different positions because he has to, rather than because he wants to.
"He's a top manager. I just hope the Newcastle fans don't let their emotions get the better of them and put the board in a position where it makes a decision, because it would be very difficult to replace him."
Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds
Newcastle's executive team still have faith in under-pressure manager Eddie Howe, while a high turnover of players is expected at St James' Park this summer. (Mail + - subscription required), external
Manchester United want Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes, with reports in his homeland Brazil suggesting the midfielder might be sold for £60m. (Sports Illustrated), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column
Image source, PA MediaNewcastle have said defender Sven Botman has had "successful surgery" on a facial fracture he sustained in Sunday's 2-1 loss to Sunderland in the Premier League.
A club statement said: "Sven is not expected to be sidelined for an extended period and hopes to be available again during the closing weeks of the season."
The Magpies do not play again until 12 April, when they visit Crystal Palace, which is the first of seven remaining Premier League fixtures for Eddie Howe's side.
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Newcastle defender John Anderson spoke to BBC Radio Newcastle after Sunday's defeat against Sunderland: "We can have no qualms about the result because Sunderland were the better team in the second half by a long way.
"They carried more threat and showed more desire. I thought Newcastle played OK first half, but over the course of the 90 minutes, the better team won.
"At the moment, half-time seems to be the worst thing for us - whatever is said or done in the dressing room, it's not working. Second half, we came out a totally different team. The same thing happened midweek [against Barcelona].
"Sunderland are missing a lot of players, and this is tough to take."
Listen to the full clip here or by pressing play below
Razor: 'Another derby day disaster'
Image source, PA MediaFormer Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast about Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby loss to Sunderland: "This is where you need calm heads but I totally understand why the fans will be disappointed to say the least - and rightly so. That second-half performance was nowhere near good enough for the Newcastle shirt.
"I do think Eddie Howe is still the right man. He's earned the right to rebuild that group, he's done amazing. The perception of the city, not just the club - he's changed that with performances in the past few years.
"I do believe Eddie is the right man for the job but there has to be some changes over the summer.
"New players coming in last summer haven't performed as well as we thought they would. They spent quite a lot of money on Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa. I haven't seen Wissa performing yet and if you compare him with Igor Thiago at Brentford, who has scored 20-plus goals already, there's a big difference there. Woltemade has ended up in midfield, even though everybody thought he was a number nine.
"They've played 50-plus games already [this season] and they haven't got the squad to deal with that, compared with Arsenal and Manchester City."
Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter
Have Newcastle gone backwards?
Newcastle's training ground was a "sombre place" after Howe's side lost the Wear-Tyne derby in December.
It will feel like a morgue following this defeat.
It is one thing conceding seven goals against Barcelona at the Nou Camp - quite another for Newcastle to lose to their bitter rivals at St James' Park just a few days later.
But such extreme setbacks are in keeping with Newcastle's wild season.
Just when Howe's men appeared to be generating a little momentum - defeating Chelsea and Manchester United in back-to-back league games - they have been brought crashing down to earth.
But you never know what you are going to get with this team, which has been a recurring theme throughout a rollercoaster campaign.
On one hand, Newcastle reached the last 16 of the Champions League for only the second time, as well as the Carabao Cup semi-finals for a third time in four seasons.
On the other, they have suffered a whopping 13 league defeats.
A side who looked primed to kick on after qualifying for the Champions League and ending a 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy have never truly got going with a sustained run this season.
However, there was a recognition internally that there would be choppy waters to navigate after Newcastle lost star striker Alexander Isak, missed out on a host of top transfer targets and made four of their five permanent additions in the final fortnight of the summer window.
It has taken the overwhelming majority of Newcastle's signings time to make an impact.
Newcastle spent £124m on Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa yet the pair did not even get on the field at the Nou Camp this week.
Woltemade made an impressive start at Newcastle, but has found himself being trialled as a midfielder of late, while Wissa has struggled to make any sort of lasting impression.
It has got to the stage where winger Gordon is Newcastle's best option through the middle despite last summer's huge outlay.
Yet Howe's most pressing issue is at the back.
Remarkably, this leaky side have conceded 45 goals in all competitions in 2026.
Howe has had little time to address these matters on the training pitches during a draining campaign in which Newcastle have played more games than any other team in Europe's top five leagues.
That will now change as the schedule eases, but this has been a damaging week for the head coach.
We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Newcastle and Sunderland.
Here are some of your comments:
Newcastle fans
Geoff: Short and sweet - bunch of losers. Yet again we were in the lead only to give it away. It's bad enough losing to Sunderland! We're the laughing stock of the North East. Season over with nothing to look forward to for next year.
Jonathon: This all stems from a terrible overspend in the summer window on players not fit for purpose. Malick Thiaw is the only bright spark. We need a new backbone to the team and a big window shifting dead weight that's only in the starting line-up because of injuries.
John: Simply not good enough. Barcelona was bad, but at least that was against one of the best teams in Europe, if not the world. This was against a mediocre Sunderland! I believe that Eddie Howe is the best manager for Newcastle and he'll be putting himself under significant pressure to improve.
Lee: All season it's felt as though Eddie had taken us as far as he can - can't work out Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa and is obsessed with playing Anthony Gordon at all costs even though his goalscoring record is bang average. Legend for winning us the cup, but his time is up now.
Sunderland fans
Merv: Till The End. It just sums up Sunderland's mentality and determination. Another positive outcome from such a spirited squad. Regis Le Bris deserves the manager of the year award because of the way he has got the team working for each other and believing in each other.
Lee: Totally deserved! Should have won by more. Kings of the North!
Martin: Absolutely perfect performance after a disastrous first half. I was worried when Dan Ballard was out, and it showed when Luke O'Nien gifted the Toon a goal. Second-half showing was much better as the lads turned up - even O'Nien, who never let his head drop. After the recent drop in form, this was great to see.
Ronnie: Sunderland were immense in the second half of that game. Chemsdine Talbi came alive and Brian Brobbey was an absolute nightmare for the Newcastle backline. Newcastle fans were talking about 'six easy points' pre-season. Didn't quite work out that way in the end!
Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, 28, tops Manchester United's list of potential replacements for fellow Brazilian Casemiro, 34, and the club have already held talks with the player's representatives. (UOL - in Portuguese), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column
