Where Newcastle United go next with sporting director search and additional transfer moves

Things are beginning to settle down after quite a frantic weekend of trading for Newcastle United as the well-documented and frustrating June 30th profit and sustainability deadline passed.

The 'unofficial' transfer deadline day saw Magpies' chiefs scampering to sell some first-team stars in order to balance the books and ensure they remain compliant with the Premier League's spending rules. Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh were the unfortunate duo to make way, while goalkeeping duo Odysseas Vlachodimos and John Ruddy both joined the club in the space of 24 hours from Nottingham Forest and Birmingham City respectively.

So, what now? Well despite one deadline passing, there is still two months to go of the summer window. Here are the issues Newcastle will tackle next.

Sporting director search to step up

Not only did Newcastle agree multiple deals for arriving and departing playing staff over the weekend, there also finally a breakthrough in the ugly saga between the north east outfit and Manchester United over sporting director Dan Ashworth.

The outgoing boardroom chief is now officially set to begin his new role at Old Trafford after four months of gardening leave on Tyneside. Newcastle have received their compensation fee, the amount both sides wish to keep confidential, and they can now kick on with hiring Ashworth's replacement.

Crystal Palace chief Dougie Freedman was the first-choice target but Eagles chairman Steve Parish pulled out all the stops to ensure the ex-striker stayed at Selhurst Park. Attention then turned to Johannes Spors, who is currently the global sporting director of 777 Group, but no offer has been presented as of yet.

Newcastle may still opt for a different suitor, with the likes of Tiago Pinto, Hugo Viana, Paul Mitchell and Rui Pedro Braz previously touted as possible options.

More exits expected

Newcastle did well to pocket £68m for the services of Minteh and Anderson but more departures are likely in the coming weeks.

Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron are just three first-team stars who have been attracting interest but Howe rates the trio as key members of his St James' Park dressing room and knows, in this current market, they will each be expensive to replace.

Any of the three could depart this summer, if the price is right, but progress on Trippier and Almiron isn't expected until the end of both the European Championship or the Copa America. Wilson has been holidaying in recent weeks and is expected back at the club's Benton HQ next week amid interest from Premier League, MLS and Saudi sides.

Newcastle are also set to offload fringe players, including Ryan Fraser, Isaac Hayden and Jamal Lewis. The first two have no future under Howe, while Lewis has been offered chances in the past but never found his feet at St James' Park.

Martin Dubravka insists he doesn't know what his future holds but with two new goalkeepers, plus Nick Pope and Mark Gillespie, on the books already - it is expected he may seek an exit with Celtic eyeing a move.

Howe wants incomings

Newcastle have technically signed four new players already this summer, counting the aforementioned goalkeeping duo, free agent Lloyd Kelly and Lewis Hall after his permanent switch was officially confirmed on July 1. While the arrival of the quartet adds much-needed depth to Howe's setup, attention will turn to bringing in some first-team stars.

A number of wide options have already been assessed, with the likes of Michael Olise and Nico Williams previously on the club's radar - providing an insight into how ambitious the targets currently are within the transfer team.

Max Kilman was one centre-back option on the shopping list during last week's PSR-induced scramble and the fact Newcastle missed out on Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer proves Howe wouldn't mind a right-sided centre-back through the door.

Plenty of Italian publications are using Newcastle's name to drum up interest and potential bidding wars, with reported interest in the likes of Juventus' Federico Gatti and Bologna's Riccardo Calafiori thought to wide of the mark.

AC Milan duo Fikayo Tomori and Malick Thiaw are two other Serie A names linked.