Newcastle United are looking at how best to strengthen their squad this summer

Newcastle United’s summer transfer plans have taken a hit with top target Tosin Adarabioyo set to join reject a move to Tyneside in favour of Chelsea. The defender, who will leave Fulham this month on a free after four years, was said to be impressed with Eddie Howe and Newcastle’s project but has reportedly chosen a move to Stamford Bridge instead.

On this week’s Monday Show from The Everything is Black and White Podcast, Andrew Musgrove and Aaron Stokes discussed Adarabioyo’s decision as well as running through who they would keep, loan or sell from Newcastle United’s current day squad.

Will missing out on Tosin Adarabioyo impact Newcastle’s transfer budget?

Newcastle United have a huge summer ahead in the summer transfer window and the arrival of Tosin Adarabioyo would have been a fantastic start.

The club still look likely to sign Lloyd Kelly on a free transfer from Bournemouth but many feel there is still need for another centre-back to be brought in. Given there was a strong belief that Adarabioyo would be arriving for nothing, missing out on him leaves Eddie Howe and the transfer team with a dilemma.

To put it simply, do they move the transfer budget around and go out and buy another centre-back? Or do they gamble – assuming Kelly does sign – with what they have and wait for the return of Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman? Our Newcastle United editor Aaron Stokes believes Adarabioyo’s move to Chelsea could have a big impact on Newcastle’s summer plans.

Speaking on the podcast, he said: “On a whole, it impacts the transfer window massively.

“On the face of it, you’re just missing out on a free agent and there’s plenty of other options out there but actually, this could really change the entire summer, because now Eddie Howe’s got to think: ‘do I go for Lloyd Kelly on a free and that’s it? And that’s the only central defender I bring in and I stick with Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, Lloyd Kelly, Emil Krafth, and then, eventually, Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles when they come back,’ or does he say right, ‘well, I want Lloyd Kelly in, but I also want to now go out and spend £35-£45m on a proper out and out centre back who is going to be here for 10 years?’

“Now that means you have less money elsewhere to maybe replace somebody on the right side of the attack and you have less money to go out and spend on a goalkeeper to rival Nick Pope, so it is going to dramatically change what Newcastle do in the next couple of months.”

Could Newcastle United really cash in on Joe Willock?

Joe Willock 2023-34 campaign was hit by injury – the midfielder making only nine Premier League appearances as he suffered an hamstring injury and then an Achilles issue. With Newcastle United held back by the Financial Fair Play Rules as well as the Profit and Sustainability Rules, meaning every penny counts, podcast host Andrew Musgrove raised the question of whether it was time for United to cash in on Willock should the right bid come along.

The midfielder arrived from Arsenal on a permanent deal in 2021 after an impressive loan spell where he hit 8 goals in 14 games – and has become an integral part of Howe’s side when fit. However, Musgrove worried whether United could rely on the midfield to make an impact following a season of injury.

He said: “I think Joe Willock is absolutely excellent but there is a question over the injuries – how many more times can we say ‘we’ve got to give him another chance?’

“It’s like Callum Wilson we keep saying ‘when fit he’s absolutely brilliant’ and that is not a lie, he is but I don’t think we can keep relying on a fit Joe Willock because there isn’t such a thing.”

Willock cost Newcastle £25 million and it is fair to say that he has improved since his arrival to Newcastle – and Stokes shot down any suggestion that the midfielder should leave this summer.

“I don’t think you write him off right now,” he said, “you give him another go because on his day when fit and firing he’s such an asset. £30 million to sell him? Really? Newcastle spent £25 million to get him from Arsenal and he’s a much better play than he was then. £30 million might get you his left foot but it wouldn’t get you his right.”

Why Miguel Almiron could stay but not as first choice

Ask anyone about Newcastle’s potential summer exits and Miguel Almiron is the name that tops the list – due to the fact he seems the club’s most sellable asset. After a storming 2022-23 campaign in which he was key to Newcastle finishing fourth, Almiron has gone from 11 goals in 45 games, to just five in 41 – with many concluded the season before last was an anomaly in an otherwise low scoring career at Newcastle.

Yet he is valued by Howe who has spoken many times about the benefits of having Almiron in the side. While Stokes concedes that Almiron is the most likely to leave this summer he has suggested that the winger could stay and become a squad player – but only if United bring in a new face to place out on the right.

He said: “If Miggy Almiron became the second choice or the third choice right midfielder at Newcastle, could you really grumble? Is that not a good squad player? Newcastle fans don’t see that and they say he needs to go, he’s had his time, he’s not at the level but I think he had some very good games this season.

“I know he wasn’t at the level that he was in the finishing fourth season, but you’ve got to remember there was times, brief times, last season where he did do a really good job – he did very well in some of the Champions League games. He’s a very good asset to have off the bench.

“If Miggy says, ‘I want to stay,’ and Eddie Howe says, ‘I want to keep you.’ and there’s not sufficient interest meaning Miggy is second or third choice next season, I’m not going to lose too much sleep. The worrying thing would be is that if they don’t upgrade at right midfield and Miggy is still the number one next season or he’s still battling up with Jacob Murphy.

“We need to see an upgrade – I mean, we’ve been banging on about this since I was sounding the horn for Moussa Diaby so this isn’t a new thing. He should be moved on, and if not, he needs to be moved down the pecking order.”

The Everything is Black and White Podcast is an award winning Newcastle United show bringing you a minimum of six episodes, for free, every week. You can listen to the podcast by simply searching The Everything is Black and White Podcast in your podcast app or by clicking here. We are also available on YouTube.