Here are the latest Newcastle United headlines for Saturday, June 10, 2023.
St James' Park work
Newcastle United CEO Darren Eales has pledged work will soon begin on the design and production of a fan zone outside St James' Park. The club announcement came as the Magpies unveiled their new front-of-shirt sponsor Sela and home shirt for the 2023/24 season.
Newcastle agreed a deal with Reditum Capital back in February to repurchase the long-term lease on land at Strawberry Place, which was sold by former owner Mike Ashley to developers back in 2019. Attention will soon turn to improving the matchday experience around the stadium as ticket demand continues to soar.
"Closer to home, we will work closely on the design and operation of a new fan zone area at St. James' Park, taking inspiration from Sela's incredible properties elsewhere," Eales revealed as the £25m-a-year Sela deal was confirmed.
READ MORE: Newcastle United confirm 'multi-year' sponsorship deal with Sela as 'ambitious vision' discussed
Newcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley has been consistent with her belief that St James' Park needs improving both inside and outside. Vast changes have been on the terraces and pitch, with attention soon turning to the surrounding area following the decision to repurchase the private land.
"We love St James' Park," the part-owner said at MIPIM, the world's largest real estate conference, earlier this year. "We luckily bought Strawberry Place and we have been talking to architects about what we can actually do.
"We desperately need to invest in the stadium. It's just the most incredible place, but it needs to be fit for purpose. We create so much magic in that stadium every day and every time there is a game on, Sky love coming. The broadcasters love it because they get real content. There's that sense of excitement that we have to build and deliver because a lot of people can't visit St James'."
Maddison hunt
Newcastle United are on the hunt for new talent as they look to ensure last season wasn't a flash in the pan. The summer transfer window hasn't even opened yet but a name that simply refuses to go away is that of Leicester City's James Maddison.
Newcastle pushed hard for the England international last summer but couldn't get the deal over the line as Leicester stuck to their valuation of £50m+. The Foxes have suffered relegation since then but will still expect a pretty penny for both Maddison and King Power Stadium team-mate Harvey Barnes, who also happens to be on the Magpies' radar.
There will be competition for the 26-year-old again this summer with an exit definitely on the cards this time. Will Newcastle finally get their man?
There's been no official bid from Newcastle in recent months but the interest from last summer has certainly carried over. Leicester's poor overall Premier League showing hasn't damaged Maddison's standing after he hit 10 goals and nine assists in 30 top flight appearances.
Leicester will, in turn, attempt to hold firm over their valuation as they prepare to lose their best players. The relegated outfit are expected to lose Maddison, Barnes, Timothy Castagne and Jonny Evans, while Youri Tielemans, Caglar Soyuncu, Daniel Amartey, Nampalys Mendy, Ryan Bertrand, Ayoze Perez and Tete have all been let go since the end of the season.
Newcastle have a budget of around £130m to play with this summer, plus money brought in from player sales, and Howe wants 'elite' signings. Maddison would represent a significant chunk of that transfer kitty but would also bring experience and quality to St James' Park.
Tottenham are also ready to make a move, with new manager Ange Postecoglou said to be very keen on securing Maddison as one of his summer signings.
Allardyce on Maddison
Ex-Newcastle United chief Sam Allardyce and Tim Sherwood both offered conflicting views when it came to the subject of James Maddison's future at Leicester City.
The ex-Coventry City playmaker is widely expected to leave the King Power Stadium this summer following the Foxes' dismal relegation to the Championship, and a move to Newcastle United has long been speculated about.
Maddison's future was one of the topics covered on the No Tippy Tappy podcast, with Allardyce, who was unable to keep Leeds United in the Premier League after being handed a four-game SOS, backing the 26-year-old to move to Tottenham Hotspur, following the arrival of Ange Postecoglou.
Sherwood, on the other hand, suggested a move to St James' Park would be where his money went, though he did admit to being excited by the prospect of him linking up with Spurs with a £40m price tag understood to have been put on the England international.
“Tottenham,” Allardyce told the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, after an extended pause for thought. “It’s a lovely Daniel deal, that one, isn’t it? He’ll be rubbing his hands, won’t he? Keep him fit, he improves Tottenham’s team.”
Former Spurs midfielder and boss Tim Sherwood, did, however, predict the Toon Army with his response. "Newcastle," he said when pressed by presenter Natalie Pike. "I'd love to see it (a move to Tottenham). He's a very good player."
