Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade, and Sandro Tonali all face uncertain futures at Newcastle.
Stu Forster/Getty Images
During the Premier League season, subscribers to *The Athletic* covering Newcastle United can ask our writers for their views and insights on what’s happening at St James’ Park. We have compiled some questions and answers from Monday’s edition of our Inside Newcastle live Q&A, which covered topics like front-of-shirt sponsorship deals, potential summer departures, and the owners’ daily involvement at the club.
Want to ask us anything else Newcastle-related? Chris Waugh will be back soon for another session.
**Any idea when the controversial barcode-design strip will be released? Was there fan input during the design process? Will it coincide with a new front-of-shirt sponsor? — Joseph M**
**Waugh:** Newcastle launched their 2025-26 kit before the final home game last season. It’s unclear if they’ll do the same this year, given they’d need to act this week—West Ham is their last home match, and at Fulham they’ll wear an alternative strip because the west Londoners play in white. As for fan consultation on the design, I’m not sure, but typically Adidas and Newcastle handle the process without direct supporter input. I suspect the 2026-27 kit announcement may take longer due to the expiring front-of-shirt sponsorship with Sela. Sela’s three-year deal runs through this season, so the Adidas-manufactured kit could have been released in full last season, but there’s more uncertainty now about who will adorn the shirt going forward.
Newcastle will be looking for a new front-of-shirt sponsor once the Sela deal ends (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images). As of earlier this month, they had not struck a sponsorship deal for next season, nor were they close. More than half of Premier League front-of-shirt deals are up for renewal, and with changing betting-advertising regulations, the industry feedback suggests sponsorship offers have dipped. Newcastle doesn’t want to undersell itself, so it won’t take a huge cut on the £25m ($34.1m) per year from the Sela partnership. Whether they extend Sela on a rolling basis or go into 2026-27 without a front-of-shirt sponsor—like Chelsea has done—remains unclear. CEO David Hopkinson is keen to maximize commercial revenue, so he won’t accept a massive drop in valuation if possible.
**Have you heard anything concrete about potential departures? Or is everything still uncertain? — Davey T**
**Waugh:** The exact plan for Newcastle’s summer window feels fluid, partly due to the slim chance of European qualification affecting business, and also because of uncertainty around specific players’ futures. Anthony Gordon is set to leave, seemingly with all parties’ blessing, as long as Newcastle recoups close to its valuation—believed to be around £80m. Bayern Munich is among the interested clubs. While Gordon’s exit is expected, it’s not guaranteed until a deal is struck.
Kieran Trippier is already leaving, Fabian Schär and other out-of-contract players are expected to follow, and Aaron Ramsdale’s loan from Southampton almost certainly won’t be made permanent. Joe Willock enters the final year of his deal, and Newcastle will listen to offers, with midfield replacements already being monitored (they had targeted Patrick Zabi from Reims in January, but he’s now heading to Paris FC). Sandro Tonali has been heavily linked with a move, and there’s a decent chance he leaves if a club meets the significant cost—few can. Tino Livramento may also depart, but injury issues could deter suitors. The futures of Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa are unresolved, and it’s not out of the question that one or both leave. Beyond that, Newcastle hopes and expects to keep the rest of its squad, including Bruno Guimarães.
**Can you tell me if PIF officials are regularly engaged with Newcastle, beyond an annual visit? — Eliot O**
**Waugh:** The accusations of borderline “absenteeism” against PIF (Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which owns 85% of Newcastle) will persist while they lack a visible presence on Tyneside. But CEO David Hopkinson speaks to the ownership almost daily, and sporting director Ross Wilson is also in regular contact with PIF officials. Much of their communication is by phone or video calls, with PIF involved in many key online meetings, especially those requiring significant financial commitment. The main point of contact for many senior staff is Jacobo Solis, PIF’s head of Europe direct investments. The Spaniard, a former lawyer and investment banker, has been heavily involved since the takeover in October 2021 and was appointed to Newcastle’s board in January 2025. Solis is often part of internal transfer discussions and acts as a direct link between the majority owners and the club’s hierarchy. Minority owner Jamie Reuben also regularly communicates with senior figures and sometimes takes part in transfer negotiations, like leading club-to-club talks with Nottingham Forest for Anthony Elanga last summer. PIF has installed Hopkinson, Wilson, and the executive team to run Newcastle day-to-day, with the CEO recently securing greater operational decision-making powers to reduce the number of calls needing ownership ratification (though big-money and infrastructure items still require it). PIF is not physically present at every match or daily at St James’ Park, but they aren’t as hands-off as some suspect.
**Do you think the club could revive its interest in Samu Aghehowa to solve our striker problem? — Andrew T**
**Waugh:** Samu was definitely considered last summer, but Newcastle didn’t want to meet the €100m (£86.5m, $117.9m) release clause in his Porto contract. If Porto had been willing to negotiate at a lower price, Newcastle might have pursued the 22-year-old more aggressively, but Porto insisted he would only leave if that figure was met. Samu has 13 goals in 19 starts in the Portuguese league this season, so he remains prolific, and he has admirers inside Newcastle, though there are concerns about certain raw aspects of his game and whether he can be as effective in the Premier League. But Samu suffered an ACL tear in February and is unlikely to return before the autumn, so a big-money move for an injured player this summer seems unlikely.
**Do you think academy players might get a chance in the next two games? We have nothing to lose by giving Leo Shahar and Sean Neave a go. — James S**
**Waugh:** Some fans questioned why Shahar didn’t deputize at right-back against Nottingham Forest, with Lewis Hall shifted across, while Neave didn’t even make the bench. The reality is that manager Eddie Howe doesn’t consider Neave (18-year-old striker) or Shahar (19-year-old full-back) ready for Premier League starts yet. He also doesn’t trust defender Alex Murphy, who has been on the bench 23 times in the league this season but only played once. Murphy made his full debut in the Champions League second leg against Qarabag when Newcastle was already 6-1 ahead, and he hasn’t featured since.
When Howe spoke after
