Eddie Howe's £135m priority as Newcastle United navigate PSR in transfer window

Newcastle United are plotting a mini summer overhaul with a new goalkeeper, added defensive reinforcements and additional firepower eyed before the start of the 2024/25 campaign - but what does the upcoming transfer window have in store for Eddie Howe's midfield options?

Much has been made of Newcastle's 'need' for a defensive-minded arrival in the centre of the park, despite Howe playing down his side's lack of an out and out No 6. Kalvin Phillips, who is usually deployed in that role, was initially eyed in January before his ill-fated West Ham United move, while Atalanta's Ederson was also on the club's radar.

Fast forward to present day and seeking out potential midfield assets has fallen down Newcastle's list of priorities. Howe, when all are fit, has seven senior options to use in that area of the pitch going forward.

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The priority for this coming season is surely finding a way to get Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali firing together. Howe has £135m worth of midfield talent at his disposal with the aforementioned trio, which is likely to be the most popular midfield three when Tonali's lengthy ban comes to completion.

The trio played together at the start of last season but failed to fire as Newcastle lost three of their first four Premier League games. Before long Joelinton had picked up an injury, while Tonali's form dipped after his stellar start on the opening day.

Howe subsequently launched an impassioned defence of his £55m summer signing, explaining: “There was no surprise that that performance against Aston Villa came when he’d been with us for pre season which is four and a bit weeks of intense work getting to know his team mates. Since then he has hardly trained with us. There have been internationals, injury. I think he has had one training session in nearly a month. Which then gives you a clue.

“That is tough for any new player transitioning into a team. You need to train regularly. He is adapting well. He is an incredible personality, very stable, committed to the project here and he will grow as time goes on.”

There is hope Tonali has now fully settled into life on Tyneside, despite not being able to play competitive football in recent months. Excitement is building for his return and it will be interesting to see how Howe seeks to use the Italian upon his return to the side.

That leaves four other midfield options which Howe must make decisions on this summer as the north east outfit attempt to navigate the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules [PSR]. Newcastle cannot spend at will and will have to offload some first-team assets if they want to invest in fresh faces before September.

In terms of the youngsters, there is no desire to sell Elliot Anderson, while Lewis Miley could potentially leave on loan but is unlikely to be offloaded permanently. That simply leaves Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock.

The former is attracting interest, with Leicester City the latest to be linked with a summer swoop. Howe trusts the academy graduate implicitly and would likely need some persuading, or a tempting offer, to agree to part ways.

Willock is another who has the respect of the manager, and the fans, but an injury-ravaged season means he is not the dependable force of old. Again, Howe is likely to hold firm should any interest emerge.

Ultimately, the Newcastle boss knows selling any first-team star this summer means replacing them with funds the club are trying hard to save. “Without trying to predict the summer, which is very difficult to do, no, I don’t see a way that we can have a mass overhaul,” Howe said in March. “I think it’s almost impossible because of financial fair play rules."

It would be no surprise to see the seven stars stay put, with a real push to making the dream trio of Joelinton, Bruno and Tonali working next season.