Your Site News' North East reporter Keith Downie gives the latest on Eddie Howe's future, the priorities in the summer transfer window and interest in Anthony Gordon.
It feels as though the Newcastle boss is at a crossroads this summer.
After four-and-a-half years at the helm at St James' Park, he's written himself into Newcastle folklore and will go down in history as one of their greatest ever managers. But the squad is changing and the rebuild job this summer is a big one.
Howe's family are settled on Tyneside and he has taken the move from the south coast in his stride. He's been adored for the majority of his time at Newcastle.
But in recent weeks, there's been noticeable dissent from fans who feel their team have regressed this season. Howe will be aware of their thoughts, and those who stayed for the 'lap of appreciation' following their 2-1 loss to bitter rivals Sunderland last month made their feelings clear.
There are mitigating factors for that: last summer's poor transfer window and a bruising schedule that saw them have no midweek breaks between November and the end of March. But there is a general feeling that things may have gone stale.
That can absolutely change with the injection of fresh blood and some good recruitment this summer, allied to the fact Newcastle won't have the intensity of Champions League football next season, but work needs to happen quickly in the transfer window.
CEO David Hopkinson, following a one-on-one lunch with Howe, has also stressed that any talks about the future can wait for now.
A big decision for Howe and the club awaits.
Having been with Newcastle for more than three seasons, there is a real chance Anthony Gordon could go this summer. The winger has turned himself into an England regular since working under Howe, and the prospect of no Champions League football isn't a positive sign for Newcastle keeping him beyond the summer.
Newcastle commanded a Premier League record fee when they sold Alexander Isak to Liverpool, and would be looking for a big outlay again if clubs were to make an official approach for Gordon.
How much is a big outlay? I'd say around double the £40m plus £5m in add-ons the club paid for him in 2023. They are in a strong negotiating position, too, as he still has four years left on his current deal.
He's also the third top scorer in the Champions League this season, and that hasn't gone unnoticed on the continent.
Your Site News understands the 25-year-old is still conducting himself in a professional manner and is keeping his head down for the final six games of the season.
Newcastle CEO David Hopkinson told reporters recently that Newcastle may have to sell to buy big this summer, and Gordon is one of the club's best assets.
If Newcastle were to rake in around £75/80m for Gordon, it would allow them more freedom in the market and give them welcome funds to spend.
They were big spenders themselves, with a £250m outlay.
Newcastle will feel the cost of that splurge this summer when they try to recruit, unless they can balance that up by selling one or more of their assets.
It could be a big window with a lot of moving parts for Newcastle, with as many as eight players leaving and arriving.
Newcastle's priorities this summer are a striker and a goalkeeper.
The £125m spent on Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa last summer hasn't worked, and while both those players will be worked on and benefit from full pre-seasons, there is a general feeling from within the corridors of power that another new striker will improve the team.
Wissa has failed to recover fully from a knee injury picked up in September, and Woltemade has been used more recently by Howe in midfield.
But a big bid for either player may be something the club need to listen to this summer. Remember, Woltemade was a £69m club record buy from Stuttgart and remains Germany's No 1 striker.
Both were on the bench against Crystal Palace as Newcastle lost 2-1 on Sunday, which felt like a big message from Howe, who preferred Will Osula as the focal point of his attack.
A big World Cup for Woltemade would help all parties.
It is also widely expected that Newcastle will bring in a goalkeeper this summer.
Aaron Ramsdale has done a decent enough job on loan from Southampton but he's not seen as Newcastle's long-term choice.
Newcastle came agonisingly close to signing James Trafford last summer, so expect a similar move for a goalkeeper of that ilk this window.
As previously mentioned, Newcastle spent big last summer on six players, one of them a loan. That is big business by anyone's book.
A club record £69m on Woltemade, £55m each on Wissa and Anthony Elanga, £43m on Jacob Ramsey, £30m on Malick Thiaw and a £4m loan fee for Ramsdale.
That outlay will affect Newcastle in future windows, unless they trade well this summer.
Howe was left without a sporting director at the start of last summer's window, which hamstrung the club and their manager in their recruitment.
They missed out on many of their top targets and failed with moves for Trafford, Hugo Ekitike, Bryan Mbeumo, Joao Pedro and Benjamin Sesko.
Howe was at the forefront of that and said in his press conference recently that all of those signings were his, so he should be judged on them.
Thiaw has been a success following his £30m move from AC Milan, and in recent months, Ramsey has looked impressive following his switch from Aston Villa.
The midfielder had his injury problems this season but I can see him being a big player for Newcastle next term.
Woltemade started off well but was then moved position when it was felt he wasn't suited to the style. This has been a topic of debate among fans who think that Howe's tactics should have changed to accommodate Woltemade, instead of pushing him back into midfield, where he looks out of place.
Neither Wissa nor Elanga have worked out, but I expect both to improve after a full pre-season.
But I can't help think that if one of Woltemade, Wissa or Elanga had worked out like Isak did when he signed from Real Sociedad in 2022, Newcastle would be pushing for a Champions League place.
It's a shame for them that all the poor recruitment appeared to happen in one window. It's cost them hugely this season.
For Newcastle to get the signings they want this summer, they're also going to have to sell - even if that means losing one or more of Tonali, Gordon or Livramento, who are all receiving interest.
