Eddie Howe admits transfer rethink after Newcastle United midfield crisis emerges

Eddie Howe Voices Midfield Concerns as Newcastle United Face Depth Crisis Ahead of Premier League Kick-Off

 

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has expressed growing concern over the lack of depth in his central midfield options as the 2025/26 Premier League season rapidly approaches. Following the departure of Sean Longstaff to Leeds United and a pre-season injury to Joe Willock, the Magpies are facing a precarious situation in the middle of the park.

 

At present, Howe has only three fully fit senior central midfielders at his disposal—Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimarães, and Joelinton—along with teenage sensation Lewis Miley, who continues to impress but remains relatively inexperienced at the highest level. Young prospects Travis Hernes and Alfie Harrison are also in the frame, but Howe is cautious about relying too heavily on youth with a demanding season on the horizon.

 

The situation has already forced Howe into a cautious approach with his midfield stars, particularly Sandro Tonali. The Italian midfielder suffered a knock to the knee recently, raising alarms within the coaching staff. Though Tonali was named among the substitutes for Newcastle’s recent pre-season friendly against Tottenham Hotspur, he was never intended to feature. Instead, he remained on the bench in casual attire, indicating a deliberate move by Howe to manage his workload and avoid further aggravation of the injury.

 

Speaking to Chronicle Live, Howe was frank about the issue:

 

> “We want six [midfielders] – and now we’re down to four. So that is an issue for us and it’s a position that we are looking at.”

 

 

 

On the topic of Joe Willock’s absence, Howe provided a cautiously optimistic update:

 

> “We don’t think Joe Willock’s injury is serious. I gave a prognosis of four to six weeks—it could be less. But I think it is an area we are actively monitoring.”

 

 

 

Whether Tonali will be deemed fit enough to feature in the upcoming Sela Cup matches against Espanyol or Atletico Madrid remains uncertain. However, Howe insisted that the decision to rest him against Spurs was strictly precautionary:

 

> “Sandro is fine. That was just a precaution from us. There are no issues there. He wanted to play, but it was my decision to pull him back and make sure his knee is OK.”

 

 

 

As the season opener against Aston Villa draws near, the Newcastle boss is acutely aware that time is running out to bring in reinforcements. Integrating any new signings into the squad, he emphasized, is not something that can be done overnight.

 

> “There’s not much time left [to sign a player before Villa]. Especially when you consider you have to get any player up to speed with how we play, whoever comes in,” Howe explained.

“And get into the intricacies of what we do. It is not easy, and it’s not something people can do straight away.”

 

 

 

Despite the challenges, Howe confirmed that Newcastle are still active in the transfer market and remain committed to strengthening the squad in key areas before the window closes. The midfield remains a clear priority as the Magpies aim to maintain their competitive edge both domestically and in Europe.

 

With the season fast approaching, the next few days could prove decisive for Newcastle United’s preparations—and for Eddie Howe’s plans to keep his midfield engine running smoothly.