A look at the latest Newcastle United headlines this evening, Saturday, July 8.
Newcastle must overcome Eddie Howe's transfer warning due to brutal nature of Champions League
"This will be our hardest window to date. In my mind, there is no doubt about that because the pool of players we have to select from is very small."
Those were the words of Eddie Howe as he assessed how Newcastle United would navigate their first transfer window since securing the return of Champions League football on Tyneside. There is no question this is the biggest summer facing the club in decades - but three weeks into it the jury is out on how it's going.
READ MORE: Brendan Rodgers has told Newcastle two key qualities Harvey Barnes possesses Eddie Howe will love
Much-needed St James' Park departures have been thin on the ground with long-serving fringe players deciding whether to remain in the shadows or move elsewhere for minutes. Offers have been scarce due to the high wages and lengthy contracts imposed by the previous St James' Park regime.
Simeone has already commented on Yannick Carrasco's Atletico Madrid future amid Newcastle 'interest'
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has already given Yannick Carrasco the green light to leave the Metropolitano Stadium this summer. The 29-year-old Belgian international has reportedly been offered to Newcastle United for a fee in the region of £16.3million, while Barcelona are also understood to be keen on a move.
However, that clause in Carrasco's deal is said to have passed but despite featuring regularly for Simeone's side last year, the unsettled winger could leave Atleti. The player's agents are said to be touting his services elsewhere with just a year left on his current deal.
Argentinian head coach Simeone wouldn't stand in the player's way if he were to leave. He told Cope: "Carrasco to Barcelona? It's a great opportunity for him.
"I always want good players to stay, but if he leaves I'll thank him for the time he's been here. Because of the way Barca play, he would be an important player."
'Flawless' Federico Chiesa a 'really special' player Newcastle have their sights on
As the final whistle blew at Wembley Stadium on July 11, 2021 English football fans would fall to their knees. Gianluigi Donnarumma had saved Bukayo Saka's penalty to end England's hopes of winning an international tournament and Gli Azzurri would end their dismal major tournament record.
Roberto Mancini's side were Euro 2020 Champions and Federico Chiesa had introduced himself onto the world stage. The then 23-year-old was one of the standout performers for his country throughout the competition with two goals to his name - carrying on his brilliant domestic form into the tournament.
Prior to the tournament, Juventus would sign Chiesa on a two-year loan deal from Fiorentina and make the move a permanent one in 2022. A fee, estimated to be in the region of £36million, saw the Old Lady snap up one of the hottest talents in world football, ending any immediate transfer speculation.
However, Chiesa's quality was on show in Serie A long before he was thrust into the limelight after Italy's Wembley triumph. 1982 FIFA World Cup winner Bruno Conti claimed the forward was 'flawless' during his time with Fiorentina and has hinted at the quality the Italian could bring to Newcastle United.
Newcastle United told Sandro Tonali is NOT 'statement' signing they must make this transfer window
Newcastle United should be aiming for 'recognised world class' players in the summer transfer market if they want to make a big statement, according to ex-Magpies striker Louis Saha.
Sandro Tonali is the club's first major signing of the summer window, with the Italy midfielder arriving from AC Milan in a £55m deal as the Magpies strengthened their midfield options. The move has gone down well among the United fanbase, but Saha, who played for Newcastle in loan spell in 1999, believes the 23-year-old is not a 'statement' signing.
And while he says Tonali is a great player, the former Manchester United striker feels Newcastle must target even higher-profile players in the remainder of the window.
Newcastle United could save millions by repeating transfer market trick with Elliot Anderson
Magpies fans have voted Sean Longstaff as their most improved player for the 2022/23 season – and if they get their wish in the coming campaign, they could well see another one of their own go on to help solve one of their transfer needs.
Midfielder Longstaff, 25, had been in and out of the side since making his Premier League debut in 2018 but took on a more prominent role in Eddie Howe’s side over the last campaign, playing 41 games in all competitions including 36 starts.
That led 44% of the Newcastle United fans who responded to our Big Forum to select Longstaff as their most improved player, with only Migel Almiron getting close with his 36% of the vote. Jacob Murphy came third with 16%, and Dan Burn was a distant fourth with 4%.
Now United fans are looking to the future, and half of you hope that a similar improvement in another academy graduate, Elliot Anderson, could go a long way to softening the blow of missing out on the signing of James Maddison. The playmaker was top of fans’ shopping lists for the season ahead but has now completed a move to Tottenham Hotspur.
Nobby Solano opens up on his 'mixed feelings' over Newcastle United's Champions League 2002/03 run
Nobby Solano admits he has mixed memories of Newcastle United's last stint in the Champions League - and feels that the Magpies should have achieved more between 2002 and 2004.
Solano was an integral part of the team that drove Newcastle to Europe's premier competition but then watched on as the black and whites failed to invest and improve. That led to a decline as well as Solano's own heartbreaking exit from St James' Park, before Sir Bobby Robson paid the ultimate price and was sacked.
Solano pinpoints the damage back to the summers of both 2002 and 2003 when Newcastle did not go on a major spending spree in either summer. United opted to sign only younger stars during both summer windows.
