Newcastle’s summer transfer window has been manic to say the least. They have already lost long-standing manager Eddie Howe and replaced him with Matthias Jaissle.
Transfer News Blitz writer Dylan Grady looks into how the future could look for the Magpies.
Howe to Jaissle
After five years managing the North East club, Howe stepped down the day after being on the receiving end of a 4-1 loss to Championship side Bristol City.
Whilst many speculated it was a reactionary move after the defeat, it was evident in Howe’s message that that was not the case. Rather, after having left the club, he’d felt he did all he could for the club and felt drained after the highs and lows he’d had with the club.
Howe stated, “After nearly five years of giving my life, heart and soul into the club with unrelenting energy, I feel it is in the best interests of both myself and the club to step away, recharge and take a break.”
This was also evident during last season’s campaign for Newcastle. They finished in a mediocre 12th place on just 49 points.
Howe also suffered an illness during the season which kept him out for a couple of games. His assistant, Jason Tindall, took over in his place at the time.
Newcastle were quick to act upon Howe’s decision to step away. Just five days later, 38-year-old German Jaissle was appointed as the Geordies’ new head coach.
Jaissle has already commented on his position by saying, “Joining this marvellous club, it’s something special and a real privilege.”
The German spent two years at Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg, winning the domestic double the first season in 2021/22.
During that season, he also led the side to the Champions League knockout stage, the first time in their history.
He won another title with Salzburg the next season before being relieved of his duties just one day before the Austrian league started for the 2023/24 campaign.
Jaissle then moved to Saudi Arabia to take the job at Al-Ahli on a three-year contract.
In the German’s second season, he guided the Saudi club to their first-ever continental title. His side beat Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in the final 2-0 to get his hands on the Asian Champions League.
He repeated this success the following season, winning the AFC Champions League again, after a 1-0 extra-time victory over Machida Zelvia. He became the first-ever manager to achieve this honour.
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Jaissle’s characteristics and philosophy
Jaissle represents the Red Bull model entirely with his teams – aggressive pressing, quick transitions and speed in attack.
Back in 2021, he claimed that Ralf Ragnick was a ‘decisive figure’ in his career as he had to cut his playing career short due to injury.
He said, “There are general principles which describe our football. High pressing, aggressive defending from the front, stressing the opposition as early as possible.
“When you’ve been injected with that RB DNA like I was, it helps convey it [as a manager].”
During his time at the three respected clubs he’s managed during his career, his win percentage hasn’t dropped below 64%.
At FC Liefring, his win percentage was 64.7%. At Red Bull Salzburg it was 69.5%, and at Al-Ahli it was 66.6%.
While outsiders and Premier League fans may say that these teams and leagues aren’t at the level of the Premier League, Jaissle can only manage what’s in front of him, and he’s done exceptionally well so far in his career.
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Transfer target changes
Over the last few seasons, Newcastle have been growing as a club. They have secured Champions League football on multiple occasions and also won a major trophy last year in 2025.
However, they haven’t been able to acquire the targets they have been pursuing.
Last season, they missed out on the likes of Hugo Ekitike, Dean Huijsen, Joao Pedro, and Benjamin Sesko. This summer, they lost out on Victor Munoz to Liverpool, Johan Manzambi to Aston Villa and James Trafford to Leeds United.
While Newcastle did pull away from the deal for Trafford due to the amount being too high and pursuing other targets, the other two in Munoz and Manzambi are the same old story Newcastle fans will be sick of seeing.
After facing these obstacles and problems continuously, Newcastle have been seen to change their approach. They appear to now be going for younger, cheaper options rather than the more expensive deals.
1Theirr-old Sean Steur, 24-year-old Lukas Horniceck, and 20-year-olds Ewen Jaouen, Bazoumana Toure and Aladji Bamba all come in the door at Newcastle. There additions drop the average age of the squad dramatically.
Newcastle seem to have reverted to the ‘Brighton type’ model of buying hidden gems young for lower prices, and giving them freedom to play, therefore selling on for higher prices.
All five players sort out positions which were desperately needed on Tyneside.
They have brought in two keepers in Jaouen and Hornicek, electric winger Toure from Hoffenheim and former Ajax midfielder Steur. 6 ft 4 Bamba as Newcastle’s new defensive midfielder fills the void left by Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes’ departures.
With these new young and energetic signings coming in and fitting the ideology and the way Matthias Jaissle wants his team to play, this could be an exciting but wary time for the Geordies.
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