Newcastle United's stunning £294m summer transfer window - according to bold prediction

An intriguing summer lies in wait for Newcastle United supporters as the Magpies look to move on from the disappointment of missing out on a place in European competition.

With memories of their Champions League visits to AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain still fresh in the mind, the Geordie faithful looked to be reaching for their passports and preparing for a Europa Conference League adventure before Manchester United’s FA Cup Final win over Manchester City ensured thoughts of Europe were put to the side for another year.

With their focus now on the transfer window, there are several major questions to answer for Eddie Howe as he prepares for his third full season in charge at St. James Park. Can the Magpies retain the services of Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak? What will happen to Sean Longstaff, Callum Wilson and Martin Dubravka as their enter the final year of their current deals? And, most importantly, can United add to their squad as they continue to battle with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations?

Those questions will be answered fully over the coming months - but we here at 3AddedMinutes couldn’t wait that long so we fired up Football Manager 2024 to see how the world’s most popular managerial simulation believes the Magpies will act during the summer transfer window:

Goalkeepers

Well this is a little bit underwhelming, really. The only change to the Magpies goalkeeping ranks is the departure of Loris Karius after his contract at St. James’ Park came to an end. That means, unsurprisingly, Nick Pope remains Eddie Howe’s number one choice and Martin Dubravka continues to play backup to the England stopper. There is a promotion for fourth choice Mark Gillespie as he becomes the third option.

Howe’s goalkeeper options: Nick Pope, Martin Dubravka, Mark Gillespie

Defenders

Now we are talking. Firstly, we will deal with the departures and there are three from the first-team ranks as Jamal Lewis, Matt Targett and Jamaal Lascelles all head for pastures new at a combined cost of £17m. Lewis dips into the Championship with a £3m move to West Bromwich Albion and Targett is off to Serie A with an £8m move to Roma. For Lascelles, it’s a £6m switch to Premier League rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers.

There were several incomings too as Howe made a bargain £4m move for Juventus centre-back Daniele Rugani before handing over £35m to land Real Sociedad’s Robin Le Normand, who has been assessed by the Magpies in the real world. The problematic left-back position is taken care of as Miguel Gutierrez swaps Girona for St. James Park’ with a £30m switch to Tyneside and Stuttgart’s Hiroki Ito will provide backup after completing a £15m move.

Howe’s defensive options: Daniele Rugani, Robin Le Normand, Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier, Tino Livramento, Miguel Gutierrez, Hiroki Ito, Sven Botman, Fabian Schar

Midfielders

Two outgoings from the midfield as Howe brings in £38m from the sales of Sean Longstaff and, somewhat surprisingly, Joe Willock. Academy graduate Longstaff remains in the Premier League with a £19m move to Everton and Willock heads to La Liga after joining Real Betis in a £29m deal. Howe reacts to those sales with a shrewd free transfer move for Argentina international Guido Rodriguez before Sporting CP’s Daniel Braganca is tempted to Tyneside in a £20m deal. Former academy midfielders Elliot Anderson and Lewis Miley remain in and around the first-team and Sandro Tonali finally returns from a suspension he received for breaching gambling regulations in Italy.

Howe’s midfield options: Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Sandro Tonali, Daniel Braganca, Lewis Miley, Guido Rodriguez, Elliot Anderson

Forwards

Again, there are two sales that catch the eye as Howe authorises the departures of Miguel Almiron and Jacob Murphy to finance two big name signings. Paraguayan international international Almiron takes the next step in his career in Europe at Marseille after completing a £24m move to the South of France and Murphy stays in England with a £17m switch to Nottingham Forest. In their place comes PSG forward Goncalo Ramos and Fiorentina winger Nicolas Gonzalez.

Howe’s forward options: Goncalo Ramos, Nicolas Gonzalez, Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak, Callum Wilson, Harvey Barnes, Yankuba Minteh

Newcastle United’s 2024/25 starting XI

Pope, Trippier, Gutierrez, Schar, Le Normand, Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton, Gordon, Gonzalez, Isak Subs: Dubravka, Livramento, Botman, Anderson, Braganca, Rodriguez, Barnes, Wilson, Ramos