Isak 2.0 re-signs in Jaissle’s dream Newcastle lineup

The bottom line is you cannot keep selling your best players and expect to compete at the forefront of the Premier League. For Newcastle United, following big-money sales of Anthony Gordon and then Sandro Tonali, club captain Bruno Guimaraes appears to be inching toward a transfer to Arsenal.

The Premier League champions believe they will get it over the line. A fee north of £70m should do it, the rumour mill says, and the Magpies will lose one of their most prized pieces of silver – perhaps the essence of Eddie Howe‘s now former project.

Howe has broken from St. James’ Park. The Premier League side have parted with the man who lifted them from relegation fodder, sculpted them into European competitors and title challengers. In 2025, Howe lifted the Carabao Cup, gave a city its greatest sporting day for a long, long time.

Matthias Jaissle is to be the man who replaces Howe at St. James’ Park. The German tactician, 38 years old, has drawn plaudits for his intelligent and aggressive football with Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, and now, in the Premier League, he could lift the Magpies back up to form.

But how will Newcastle line-up under Jaissle? Expect a few more changes to be run before summer is out.

1

GK – Lukas Hornicek

REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Newcastle are on the cusp of completing a £26m move for Lukas Hornicek, a 24-year-old goalkeeper who will ostensibly replace Nick Pope this season.

Having missed out on James Trafford, the Braga shot-stopper has a big task to complete over the coming year – and beyond.

2

RB – Tino Livramento

Tino Livramento’s interminable injury issues meant he had to withdraw from England’s summer World Cup squad, and after so much misery over the past few years, the talented right-back will be hoping he can kick on and nail down a place now that Kieran Trippier has departed at the end of his contract.

3

CB – Malick Thiaw

One of the brighter sparks at Newcastle last season, Malick Thiaw largely impressed throughout his first year in the Premier League, though the physical and tough-tackling defender formed part of a wider malaise that hurled Newcastle down the ladder and toward a lowly 12th-place finish.

4

CB – Fikayo Tomori

With Sven Botman torn to shreds in the 4-1 pre-season defeat by Bristol City in the build-up to Howe’s shock departure, it’s clear that the Toon need another centre-back.

Fikayo Tomori has emerged as a contender after several years in Italy with AC Milan. At £17m, he would be relatively affordable, bringing experience, robustness and a crisp ball-playing game.

5

LB – Lewis Hall

Another mainstay whose position at Newcastle is uncertain, Lewis Hall is of a vested interest to Manchester United – though the Magpies don’t want to sell.

Honestly? Who knows. Let’s just hope Jaissle doesn’t lose one of the Premier League’s finest full-backs at the start of his reign.

6

CM – Angelo Stiller

Let’s face it: Guimaraes is unlikely to be playing his football in black and white this season. It’s going to hit like a sucker punch, but PIF have to deal with it, and Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller could be the perfect replacement.

Having emerged as a target this summer, the £44m-rated Stiller wouldn’t come cheap, but the Toon will have cash to burn, should they

7

CM – Sean Steur

Sean Steur might only be 18 years old, but he looks to have been an absolute steal at £23m this summer.

He has caught the eye during pre-season so far, and even though Newcastle were thrashed by Bristol City, the young Dutchman impressed with his maturity and skill on the ball.

8

CM – Aladji Bamba

REUTERS/Manon Cruz

Newcastle’s trend of signing young talent this summer is perfectly encapsulated through the £35.5m signing of Monaco’s Aladji Bamba, who only started ten times in Ligue 1 last season, but is highly talented and regarded as something of a ball-winning machine in the middle of the park.

The 20-year-old has what it takes to succeed Guimaraes, but whether that is too tall an order next season remains to be seen.

9

RW – Anthony Elanga

Anthony Elanga suffered throughout his first year at Newcastle, failing to score across 32 games in the Premier League.

However, he showed for Sweden at the World Cup that he has the potential to be a star. He showed that with Nottingham Forest over two seasons. Jaissle’s front-footed, high-pressing system may well play to the pacy winger’s strengths.

10

LW – Bazoumana Toure

Again, Bazoumana Toure steps into big boots after completing a £43m transfer to join Newcastle from Hoffenheim earlier this summer.

The Ivorian winger is only 20 years old, and for all his pace and potential, he will need to hit the ground running if he is to effectively counter the departure of Gordon.