Don’t get overwhelmed by it | OneFootball

Newcastle United fans can now say they are looking forward to the new season kicking off next month.

The 2024/25 season ended in May, we have made it through June, now into July, so August is next when the 2025/26 Premier League season kicks off.

When I talk about Newcastle United fans now able to say ‘they are looking forward to the new season’, that isn’t of course a sentiment shared by all.

Anticipation for a new season has been replaced by fear, by dread, for some supporters.

My message is, don’t get overwhelmed by it.

‘It’ of course, is the fact that no new first team contenders have been signed, so far.

Frustration is natural BUT letting this overwhelm all other factors is not natural, nor proportional.

To hear some Newcastle United fans, you would think it was 1 September 2025 and only hours remaining in the transfer window, no signings made, four of NUFC’s star players sold, now Eddie Howe has just walked out.

All clubs need to continually try and improve their team, their squad, but signing new players is not the only thing that matters.

Eddie Howe is still here.

All of Newcastle United’s best players are still at St James’ Park.

All of Newcastle United’s players are still here, apart from the ones that Eddie Howe was comfortable with seeing move out.

I have absolutely zero worries about losing any of Newcastle United’s key players this summer. The only tiny caveat to that is if Eddie Howe wanted that to be the case, that he would agree to sell somebody because then that would allow other players to be signed to overall improve the team.

I think the striking thing about the transfer window this summer for me, is that whilst Newcastle United have all these great players that other clubs would love to have, not one of them has been the subject of a bid, not even serious interest, an approach made etc.

As Newcastle United fans, we are seeing our best players modelling next season’s kit and appearing with Tino Asprilla doing quirky promotional videos for official NUFC merchandise. We are not seeing them the subject of serious interest from rival clubs.

It doesn’t mean that these clubs aren’t seriously interested in wanting Newcastle’s best players, quite the opposite, instead it is a case of they know fine well that they’d be totally wasting their time in even trying. Everything is done through agents these days and if a club is willing to listen to offers for one or more of their players, then that is made known to other clubs via the network of agents.

For any Newcastle United fans who say ‘well what about all these daily headlines about Liverpool, Arsenal wanting to buy our best players?’, the answer is simple. All of these stories basically just repeat the same thing, over and over again, which is that *Insert rival club name here* would love to sign Alexander Isak, Sandro Tonali, Tino Livramento and so on.

Newcastle United will make signings this transfer window, I don’t claim to know who nor when, but we will bring in new players. Players who I am confident will prove very good signings. Why? Well I base that on what has happened previously, Eddie Howe doesn’t buy expensive duds.

I know it is difficult not to be overwhelmed by the no signings yet situation, but other things are just as, if not more, important.

None more so than having Sven Botman, Lewis Hall and Joelinton back available for the new season. All the reports are positive on their condition and preparation to return to the team fully fit. These are three massive talents who are set to play a huge role this coming season.

Speaking of massive talents, it became apparent that in the final stages of last season, Alexander Isak wasn’t fully fit, desperate for a rest and recharge his batteries, he wasn’t the only one (other players and many fans!).

For some Newcastle United fans, it feels like they have developed a mindset that it would be some kind of a disaster if for the opening Premier League game(s), United lined up with:

Pope

Livramento/Trippier

Schar

Burn/Botman

Hall/Livramento

Tonali

Murphy

Isak

Gordon/Barnes

I think the bottom line is that especially in the opening stages of the season, you are massively reliant on your longstanding players.

As the season goes on, then I think new signings take on more importance.

I am happy to wait and see exactly what happens in this summer transfer market. The important thing is to make the right signings, rather than making the first signings.

As Newcastle United fans, we have seen this time and time again, Eddie Howe bringing in great players at outstanding value for money prices.

When we get into the real tough grind of the 2025/26 season when playing most midweeks is a reality, that is when some depth of quality across the squad is essential. When new players will really show their worth as part of the team, part of the squad.

I have confidence that the right signings will be made this summer.

I have even more confidence that it isn’t a disaster if the Newcastle United players who delivered a trophy and Champions League qualification, are the same ones we will be relying on for the matches in August.