This time last year, Newcastle United looked like a club on an upward curve that nothing could stop. European football secured, a squad packed with marketable stars, a fanbase daring to dream again. This summer looks different. Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Tino Livramento — three of the most high-profile names at St James' Park — are all linked with exits, and the club's ability to hold onto all three simultaneously looks increasingly uncertain. The question is no longer whether Newcastle will lose players this summer. It is whether they can lose the right ones without losing their identity altogether.
The Gordon Situation
Anthony Gordon has been one of the most consistent performers in the Premier League over the past two seasons. The winger, who arrived from Everton, has repaid every penny of his transfer fee and more. Bayern Munich are said to be leading the charge for his signature, with Arsenal also circling. Gordon is contracted until 2030 and Newcastle are under no obligation to sell, but the player himself is understood to be keen on testing himself at a higher level this summer. At around £75 million, he would be one of the most expensive English players ever sold. Newcastle would reinvest the money, but replacing him on a like-for-like basis would be extremely difficult.
Tonali's Uncertain Future
The Sandro Tonali situation is the most intriguing of the three. The Italian midfielder served a lengthy gambling-related ban earlier in his Newcastle career but has rebuilt his reputation brilliantly and is now regarded as one of the best holding midfielders in the Premier League. Manchester United have been linked consistently and Newcastle are reportedly seeking around €100 million including add-ons before they will even consider letting him go. The latest reports suggest Tonali himself is warming to the idea of staying — which would be the best possible outcome for Eddie Howe's side. But money talks, and if United table a formal bid at that level, the conversation changes quickly.
What a Triple Exit Would Mean
If Newcastle were to lose Gordon, Tonali and Livramento in the same window, the financial injection would be enormous — potentially over £200 million combined. But the sporting cost would be severe. These are not fringe players or squad fillers — they are three of the first names on the teamsheet. Rebuilding from that position in a single summer while maintaining Champions League ambitions would be a significant undertaking. The club's CEO has spoken publicly about the need to trade smartly this summer, which suggests some sales are coming. The fanbase's hope is that management can identify which assets to move and hold firm on the rest.
Newcastle's Recruitment Position
Newcastle's scouts have been active all season and have already identified targets across multiple positions. The club has the infrastructure and backing to make meaningful signings, but getting the balance right will define the next chapter of this project. A summer that ends with one or two targeted sales, steady replacements, and a clearer squad direction would be considered a success. Losing all three assets while failing to recruit smartly would set the project back considerably. The next six weeks will tell us which version of Newcastle's summer we are actually in for.
Transfer context: Anthony Gordon (Newcastle, target of Bayern Munich/Arsenal, approx. £75m), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle, target of Manchester United, approx. €100m), Tino Livramento (Newcastle, target of Arsenal/Man City/Liverpool, approx. £70m). All deals unconfirmed. Summer window opens 1 June 2026.
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