Newcastle United's strongest XI for first half of 2025/26 season now transfer window is closed
We now know what the Newcastle United squad looks like for the first half of this tricky season, where the Magpies are once again competing in the Champions League.
Newcastle have brought in six first team signings in this summer's transfer window and each one of them is a marked improvement on players who have left, or players who remain in the squad - except maybe the obvious one of he who shall not be named.
Nick Woltemade has the potential to be just as successful as Newcastle's Voldemoort, but there will need to be an adjustment period, and then a period of growth. Even the world-class man-child needed time.
It seems every outlet is having a crack at what they believe to be Newcastle's most likely strongest XI, and without looking at any of those, we've come up with our own before we assess the competition.
This isn't how we think we will actually line up, but what we believe to be our strongest XI as things stand. We're sure Eddie Howe will have other ideas.
Goalkeeper
Aaron Ramsdale - This would be our preference purely because seeing the ball played along the floor to Nick Pope gives us nightmares. But we know Howe will stick with Pope for as long as he can.
Defenders
Tino Livramento - At some point, Tino is going to reclaim his right-back role when his mate Lewis Hall returns to full fitness, which means Kieran Trippier will drop to the bench.
Malick Thiaw - He wasn't brought in to watch from the bench. Although it may take a while before he replaces Fabian Schar.
Sven Botman - The idea is to create a new, younger defensive partnership, so if Thiaw plays, it makes sense to play Botman too. It just sucks that it will come at the expense of Dan Burn.
Lewis Hall - The young left-back was a sensation last season before his injury, and he's finally getting back to full fitness.
Midfielders
Bruno Guimaraes - Wor Captain. Bruno is always the man for the big occasion. He can go missing in 'smaller' games, but he's still our leader.
Sandro Tonali - Possibly one of the best all-round midfielders in the Premier League.
Joelinton - It was a coin toss over whether it would be Joey or Jacob Ramsey to be honest, but J7 is a proven entity in this midfield set-up, and for that, he keeps his place. And we love him.
Forwards
Anthony Elanga - His pace is absolutely devastating, and when he gets his confidence up and learns the movements of his teammates, he has the potential to be lethal.
Yoane Wissa - Yes, Nick Woltemade came in for the big bucks and will ultimately lead the line, but for the first half of the season at least, the goal-scoring burden will fall on the shoulders of the new No. 9.
Anthony Gordon - Looks to have his head on straight again. Long may it continue. And with a new centre-forward in, he can go back to the left wing where he is far more effective.
The fact that top players like Nick Pope, Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, Jacob Ramsey, Harvey Barnes and Nick Woltemade don't feature in the XI is such a good sign that our squad may finally have the depth we need to be able to compete on four fronts this season.
Our play style has shown this season already that we can dominate, we've just been missing that goal threat, and now we have it, it could be one hell of a campaign again.
