Newcastle are set to target a new striker this summer, despite spending £125m on Nick Waltemaide and Yoan Wissa last year.
Newcastle are prioritizing the signing of a goalkeeper in their summer reshuffle, which could see up to eight changes to the squad.
A summer of change is expected on Tyneside, with some of Eddie Howe’s squad attracting interest from other clubs and several players reaching the end of their contracts.
Howe, along with sporting director Ross Wilson, will be given the opportunity to right the wrongs of last season’s summer window, when Newcastle spent £250m to varying degrees of success.
Newcastle have not been contacted by any clubs regarding signing big-name stars such as Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento, but they are prepared to make offers in case Newcastle miss out on Champions League qualification.
Sky Sports News understands that no players have informed Newcastle’s management of their intention to leave.
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The transfer show will highlight this summer’s most in-demand midfielders – will Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali top that list?
Sunday’s Tyne Wear derby defeat to Sunderland put Champions League qualification in doubt, and the performance left fans questioning the club’s direction.
Howe and his players were booed off the pitch by a large crowd who had waited for the final whistle.
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Free to watch: Premier League highlights between Newcastle and Sunderland
Newcastle ideally want to keep all their best players and don’t want to lose anyone, but they don’t want to see a situation similar to last summer’s when Alexander Isak went on strike to force a move to Liverpool. I personally admit that I made a mistake in prolonging the transfer and that it has spilled over into this season.
However, no player will be sold for less than their value, and only a small number of clubs will be able to buy them, especially in the case of players like Tonali and Gordon.
Kieran Trippier and Fabian Schaal are all out of contract, while Joe Willock is likely to be sold with 12 months left on his contract.
Aaron Ramsdale is likely to return to Southampton after his season-long loan ends despite recently replacing Nick Pope, with Newcastle eyeing a new No.1.
They came very close to signing James Trafford last summer, only for Man City to snatch the England international away in the closing stages.
And despite spending £125m on the signings of Nick Woltemaid and Ioan Wissa last summer, the search for new centre-forwards will continue.
Wissa’s £55m move from Brentford did not go well, but he will benefit from making full use of pre-season. Woltemade has recently been used as a midfielder, but after training on the training ground he will return to a more attacking position.
