Fifth Champions League spot secured for Premier Leaguepublished at 08:19 BST
08:19 BST
Dale Johnson Football issues correspondent
Image source, Getty Images
The Premier League will have at least five teams in the Champions League next season after securing a European Performance Spot for the second straight year.
The extra place was confirmed on Tuesday as Arsenal beat Sporting 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.
Uefa awards an additional place to the two leagues with the best overall performance across the three European competitions.
The race for fifth place in the Premier League, currently held by Liverpool on 49 points, is exceptionally tight.
Just seven points separate Arne Slot's side from 13th-placed Bournemouth.
Chelsea (48) sit in sixth followed by Brentford (46), Everton (46), Fulham (44), Brighton (43), Sunderland (43), Newcastle (42) and Bournemouth (42).
If Aston Villa, who are fourth on 54 points, win the Europa League and finish outside the top four, the Premier League would have six teams in the Champions League.
The same logic applies to Liverpool, who face Paris St-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday.
If either win a European trophy and finish fifth, then sixth would qualify for the Champions League via the EPS place.
If both win European trophies and finish fifth and sixth, that would put seventh into the Champions League.
Nottingham Forest are in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. They could emulate Tottenham by winning the competition and finishing in the bottom half of the table.
Just like last season, that would create a sixth team in the Champions League for the Premier League too.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have joined Newcastle in monitoring 21-year-old Italy defender Marco Palestra, who is currently on loan at Cagliari from Atalanta. (Teamtalk, external)
'Trippier, here are your (verbal) flowers'published at 08:25 BST 7 April
08:25 BST 7 April
Charlotte Robson Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
This summer looks to be transformative for Newcastle United. Much hinges on how we fare through the last seven games and where we finish.
If we secure European football there might be less upheaval, but we're still looking at quite a bit of change in the squad alone.
Several players are out of contract, including Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth. We may yet see new contracts for those players, but this past week we had confirmation that another player out of contract will be leaving at the end of the season.
Kieran Trippier, here are your (verbal) flowers.
When Newcastle were taken over in 2021 we were, as fans, at an all time low. Howe came in and got straight to work, but he had to wait for a transfer window to open to plug any gaps he had identified at that time. So we waited until January, languishing in the relegation zone, wondering what might happen.
And then something we thought was impossible happened. It was announced that Kieran Trippier had agreed to join Newcastle from Atletico Madrid. Everything suddenly seemed possible. He started the new wave of signings; it's entirely likely that, had he not believed in the project at NUFC, we would not have subsequently signed Bruno Guimaraes.
What Trippier represents to Newcastle fans cannot be overstated. He captained us to our first domestic trophy in a generation. He personifies the new era at our club. He helped steady the ship.
In a lot of ways, I wish he could stick around the club forever. As a coach, as a talisman, as a legend. But what is so great about Trippier is that there is still so much more to come from him. If ever there was a way to leave a club with the respect and love of the fans, this was it. Thank you, captain.
'A proper Geordie' - your views on Trippier's time at Newcastlepublished at 12:21 BST 5 April
12:21 BST 5 April
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on Kieran Trippier announcing his departure from Newcastle United in the summer after more than four years at the club.
Here are some of your comments:
Andrew: Trippier has become a proper Geordie. He was, in my opinion, the best signing of the Staveley era, as it showed the intent of the club. I'm not sure Bruno and the others who followed would have come without him.
Howard: Tripps will be a huge miss. I hope that after his final years away somewhere that the Newcastle hierarchy realise how big he was here and offer him another role, in the academy or wherever.
Jim: Fantastic player for Newcastle. One of the leaders in the team and pushed the team when they slowed down. He will be remembered as one of the main players as Newcastle go through the transformation into one of the best teams in the league.
Graham: Trippier was a star appointment, which has only begun to dim during these past twelve months. Still a cut above most in the Premier League as a right-back, ever. Thank you, Tripps.
Barry: I think the time is right. The squad needs a rebuild and Kieran is at a point in his career where his best years are behind him, nevertheless, what a great signing he has been and what he has done for the club can not be overstated. I wish him all the best for the future.
Michael: Never forget Tripps! Been a fantastic player for us both as an individual and a leader since he came in at the beginning of the takeover. Selfishly, I'd like him to retire and stay on in a coaching role. Feel like he's got a lot to give once he does hang up his boots.
Mel: The best signing since Alan Shearer... he's been absolutely colossal for Newcastle United in every aspect. Good luck to him in his next venture.
Russell: Will he be missed? To put it simply... yes. Will be forever remembered as the first signing of the new era that took a risk and came to a relegation battle and led us to safety. A true leader on and off the pitch and personified the new era. Made himself a Newcastle legend and forever an honorary Geordie. Thanks for everything, Tripps!
Trippier to leave Newcastle - have your saypublished at 12:45 BST 4 April
12:45 BST 4 April
Image source, Getty Images
Kieran Trippier is to leave Newcastle United when the defender's contract expires this summer.
The right-back joined Newcastle from Atletico Madrid in January 2022 as the first signing following the club's takeover by a Saudi-led consortium.
Newcastle were in the relegation places at the time and Trippier has gone on play a crucial role in the club's resurgence under Eddie Howe.
The former England international helped his side end their seven-decade wait to win a major domestic trophy last season by lifting the EFL Cup, as well as playing his part in the club qualifying for the Champions League in 2023 and 2025.
In a joint statement, the 35-year-old announced he will be departing the club where he has "felt most at home" at the end of the season.
"It's emotional and I'm really going to miss it," he said.
"I want to say a massive thank you to the supporters for all the support through the good and the bad times for me personally. You've always supported me, always stood by me.
"To my team-mates, it's going to be emotional. It's been an amazing journey with you guys. I'm going to miss you all, but to win a trophy with you guys was really, really special - the best of my career."
So, what did you make of Trippier's time at St James' Park? Will his leadership be a big miss for Howe and the squad, or is it the right time to part ways?
'We always went for the killer goal - that was our undoing'published at 08:20 BST 3 April
08:20 BST 3 April
Image source, Getty Images
Thirty years on from Liverpool beating Newcastle 4-3 in one of the Premier League's greatest ever matches, former Reds player Jason McAteer, former Magpies defender Steve Howey, the Anfield Wrap's Ian Ryan and the Athletic's George Caulkin join Alistair Bruce-Ball on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily to reflect on a true classic.
Despite going 1-0 down after two minutes, Newcastle led 2-1 just minutes later and almost immediately retook the lead to make it 3-2 after Liverpool's equaliser midway through the second half.
However, Stan Collymore scored twice against an open an expansive Magpies team, including a dramatic stoppage-time winner to spark the iconic image of then manager Kevin Keegan slumped over the advertising hoardings, to ensure the Reds came out on top in the thriller.
"It was pretty much the same as it always was from Kevin which was telling us 'there's an awful lot of fans who have come here and paid to watch you play, go out there and entertain them'," Howey recalled.
"He always wanted us to send the fans home happy knowing that they have been entertained by a game.
"That was Kevin's philosophy from day one. If we conceded a goal it wasn't really an issue because we had such firepower.
"He had such belief the boys would get one. That was always our ethos.
"In this game, even though we went down 1-0 in the first two minutes, it wasn't an issue. We just knew we would be able to score and get goals back.
"When it got to 3-3 most teams would have sat and tried to take the point away from home but that wasn't us. We always went for the killer goal. That was our undoing and Collymore got the famous winner."
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Newcastle training ground to be renamedpublished at 11:16 BST 2 April
11:16 BST 2 April
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Newcastle United's training ground is to be renamed as part of a new sponsorship deal.
The Benton facility will be known as 'The Knox' from 1 July after the club signed a commercial partnership with the sports drink company.
The deal also includes sleeve sponsorship on the training kit, which represents another first in the club's history.
It marks a shift in approach following the appointment of chief executive David Hopkinson, who previously served as Real Madrid's head of global partnerships.
The club announced that commercial revenue grew by 44% to £120.1m last season, but this figure was still a long way off, say, Manchester City, who generated £340.4m in the same period.
"When I think about our competitors, they are formidable and they have already got a head start on us," Hopkinson said just this week.
"But all they've got is as head start on us and we've got a tremendous opportunity for growth right in front of us.
"We've used the phrase headroom in terms of a player budget, but what I also look at is the commercial opportunity, we have significant headroom to catch up.
"It means we've got to work harder, we've got to work smarter with high conviction and energy every single day to capture that headroom. We've got to catch these guys."
🎧 Hopkinson's 'open answer' on Howe 'gives people opportunity to speculate'published at 10:08 BST 2 April
10:08 BST 2 April
Image source, PA Media
BBC Radio Newcastle's Matthew Raisbeck and former Newcastle defender John Anderson have run through the club's latest financial results and comments made by chief executive David Hopkinson earlier this week about the future of manager Eddie Howe.
"He [Hopkinson] didn't give a great deal away," said Anderson. "He didn't back him but he didn't say that he wasn't backing him either - it was a very measured type of answer he gave.
"I think an awful lot rides on these last seven [Premier League] games. He had a meeting with Eddie Howe, they went through an awful lot of things and we'll see what the summer brings.
"The derby defeat, losing home and away [to Sunderland], hasn't sat well with supporters either.
"People will read what he's said in different ways. Some will say 'he's definitely not backing Howe and he's away in the summer' - but he hasn't said that, has he?
"You've got to be very careful and speculation will be rife. The answer he gave to that question gives people the opportunity to speculate. It was a very open answer.
"All I would say is wait until the end of the season, see where we are at the end of the season and see what happens."
Listen to the full discussion by clicking the play button below or via BBC Sounds.
Gossip: Tonali transfer speculation continuespublished at 07:13 BST 2 April
07:13 BST 2 April
Sandro Tonali's representatives have made contact with Real Madrid as part of a widening search for the 25-year-old's next club, while Manchester City are also interested in signing the Newcastle United midfielder. (Teamtalk), external
Can Newcastle fight on four fronts without depth of status quo?published at 15:29 BST 1 April
15:29 BST 1 April
Image source, Getty Images
The final part of our Q&A with BBC Sport's Newcastle United reporter Ciaran Kelly looks at how far off the Magpies are from competing at the top as well as the revenue gap.
Dan asked: Do you think next season will be a lot more consistent than this season without the pressure of European football potentially? It's clear the squad isn't strong enough to be fighting on four fronts and burnout has kicked in. Eddie Howe is a top manager but can only do so much with the squad he has.
Mark, on a similar theme, asked: Newcastle have a number of great players but not the strength in the squad to compete in Champions League and the Premier League. Arsenal,Manchester City,Liverpool etc can rest players and bring on internationals to replace them. With PSR, how far off are we?
Ciaran answered: This made me immediately think back to Newcastle's FA Cup tie against Manchester City last month.
Pep Guardiola made 10 changes, named Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marc Guehi, Ruben Dias, Rodri, Bernando Silva, Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo and Phil Foden on a stacked bench, and gave Erling Haaland the night off.
City went 1-0 down yet still ended up winning the game comfortably at St James' Park - just as they did in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
It felt a reminder of the almighty challenge Newcastle face while competing on multiple fronts and battling clubs with far greater wage bills and deeper squads.
For context, Manchester City generated more in commercial income (£340.2m) than Newcastle did in overall revenue (£335.3m) last season.
Newcastle can compete with any side on their day – it is worth remembering they defeated City in the league back in November – but the test is to do so consistently in the league over the course of the season while also progressing in Europe and going far in the cups.
That has proved difficult for Newcastle both this season and, indeed, in their previous campaign in the Champions League in 2023.
But Newcastle can ill-afford to yo-yo in and out of Europe to truly progress, in my view.
Otherwise, how do they truly learn and adapt as, say, Aston Villa have for the most part - even if this has admittedly been a challenging few months for Unai Emery's side.
Image source, Getty Images
Ozzy asked: Newcastle's annual revenue has increased significantly each year under the new ownership. Estimates suggest that the next annual revenue figure will top £400m. How accurate are these estimates?
Ciaran answered: That is certainly the projection.
It is worth noting the most recent set of financial results were for the year ending June 2025 so this £335.3m figure did not include the club's lucrative march to the last 16 of the Champions League or the £125m sale of Alexander Isak.
The Champions League is a game-changer.
Newcastle's commercial income rose by 44% last season yet overall revenue only increased by £15m in the absence any European football.
It may be tempting to suggest it would be better for Newcastle to again drop out of Uefa competitions altogether next season in order to front load spending and enable the club to splash out up to 85% of of their football-related revenue and net profit/loss from player sales under the Premier League's new squad cost rules.
However, that would then prove damaging if Newcastle were to return to Europe in the following season as the previous campaign would still be taken into account in Uefa's three-year monitoring period.
It would make it difficult for Newcastle to comply as Uefa limits clubs' spending on wages, transfers and agents' fees to 70% of revenue.
The Champions League is by far the most rewarding competition but, even if Newcastle are to miss out this season, the hierarchy feel the Europa League would still be pretty beneficial and even the Conference League would be better than no European football whatsoever.
That's why finishing this season strongly still feels important - on and off the field.
Will there be a mass exodus of Newcastle's best players?published at 11:42 BST 1 April
11:42 BST 1 April
Image source, Getty Images
The next part of our Q&A with BBC Sport's Newcastle United reporter Ciaran Kelly looks at potential big-name departures and Eddie Howe's future.
Jeff asked: Will there be a mass exodus of our best players this summer - Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon - or do we have strength because of their contract situations?
Ciaran answered: Newcastle have to become better sellers in order to reinvest in multiple areas of the side, and I don't see the club shying away from trading this summer.
That does not mean that there will be a mass exodus, but I can certainly envisage a couple of key figures moving on for sizeable fees, along with a number of squad players.
As you rightly point out, Newcastle are in a strong position to demand huge sums.
As I said in my first answer earlier, Tonali effectively has four years left to run on his deal, while Gordon's contract also does not expire until 2030.
It is a little different with Guimaraes, whose deal runs out in 2028, but I've had no information that the Newcastle captain is seeking to leave.
Although Tino Livramento's contract is also up in a couple of years, and there has been no progress in talks, I still think Newcastle would be in a strong position to command a premium for the England international, who is still only 23.
If you were to push me on it, right now, I would say Livramento and Tonali were most likely to depart, but there are bound to be twists and turns in the coming months.
Image source, Getty Images
Alexander asked: Do you think Howe should be given more time to get things right?
Ciaran answered: Certainly until at least the end of the season. That would then feel like an opportune time for all parties - Howe included - to sit down and review the campaign and plot the best way forward.
There have been notable achievements this season - qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League and reaching a third EFL Cup semi-final in four years - but this has been a bruising campaign.
Newcastle are 12th in the Premier League for a reason and, rather than the season being as good as over, it feels like there is a lot riding on the final seven games.
Chief executive David Hopkinson has inferred as much.
"I expect to have a great run to the end of the season here and we'll talk about the future when it's time," he said this week.
Howe, similarly, will just be focusing on the run-in.
The Newcastle head coach will have the rare luxury of extra recovery time and training time as a relentless schedule finally eases following six draining months.
This is where Howe has previously come into his own at Newcastle after leading his side to Champions League qualification in 2023 and 2025, when they felt the benefit of being able to focus solely on domestic matters.
The top five looks out of reach this time around, but Howe has to generate some momentum in the final weeks of the season and qualify for Europe, for me.
Although Newcastle have not exactly got a great recent record against some of their upcoming opponents, and have suffered some damaging results at the hands of sides in the bottom half this season, Howe's team do not have the worst run-in.
In fact, league leaders Arsenal are the only side currently in the top eight who Newcastle will face between now and the end of the campaign.
Throw in the fact the squad will be lifted by the return of talisman Guimaraes, as well as Lewis Miley and Fabian Schar, and Howe has the tools to finish the season strongly.
Then it feels like the time to take stock before what is sure to be a busy summer.
Come back later on Wednesday for the final part of our Q&A, which will look at how far Newcastle are off competing at the top.
Where do Newcastle need to strengthen this summer?published at 07:19 BST 1 April
07:19 BST 1 April
Image source, Getty Images
BBC Sport's Newcastle United reporter Ciaran Kelly will be answering a selection of the questions you have sent in throughout Wednesday.
Liam asked: What positions do you think we need to sign in the summer window?
Ciaran answered: Where to start?
A new goalkeeper is right at the top of my list, while at least one full-back will be needed.
Throw in a technical central midfielder and a prolific striker and, suddenly, I'm already hitting a nine-figure spend. Gulp.
That's before even taking departures into account, and the gaps that would need to be filled.
Take a long-serving player like Fabian Schar. He may be 34 and entering the final months of his contract, but Newcastle would still have to pay a reasonable fee to find a worthy replacement, even if it is a younger player capable of one day filling the defender's boots.
So do they hand the Swiss another deal or truly overhaul the squad?
It is not hard to envisage a one in, one out policy this summer.
Newcastle are going to have to be smart with their trading to generate the sorts of funds to enable the club to strengthen the spine of the team, which has to be the priority.
That carries an element of risk when moving on one or two key players, but Newcastle have to become good sellers as well as good buyers moving forward.
They can't afford for a saga to rumble on in the way the Alexander Isak affair did last summer or get to a position where they are having to race against the clock to sell the talented Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to avoid a breach of financial rules like in 2024.
They have to be strategic.
Image source, Getty Images
Ed and Lara both asked: How likely is it that Sandro Tonali will leave?
Ciaran answered: Nothing is cast in stone.
But if you were to push me on it, right now, I would put Tonali in the top two blue-chip players most likely to depart Newcastle this summer.
It's important to note that head coach Eddie Howe has repeatedly made it clear that the Italian is "totally committed" - and I don't doubt that.
Tonali gave an entirely reasonable response earlier this season when he said he was just thinking year by year rather than looking too far ahead.
However, his agent, Giuseppe Riso, has never been so outspoken about his client's future during the entirety of his time at Newcastle.
That does not go unnoticed.
My mind also casts back to an interview Tonali did around this time a year ago with Sky Sports.
He repeatedly made it clear how Newcastle "needed" to qualify for the Champions League before his side secured a top-five finish.
This is the stage Tonali relishes, having previously reached the semi-finals of the competition with AC Milan in 2023, and, like Isak before him, he will want to compete for the biggest prizes in the game as he approaches his peak years.
Newcastle are, obviously, not in a place to do so yet, but the club remains in a very strong position with regards to Tonali.
The 25-year-old effectively has more than four years to run on his contract if, as expected, Newcastle trigger a 12-month extension.
Given the fees midfielders of his age, experience and profile command, Newcastle would stand to make a real profit on the £55m they paid AC Milan if a suitor firms up their interest.
Otherwise what is the point?
No wonder chief executive David Hopkinson made it clear this week that any players who depart will do so "on our terms".
Come back to this page later for parts two and three of the Q&A, which will look at subjects such as Howe's future and the revenue gap to the top clubs.
The Magpies are open to selling their best players for the right price this summer, giving Manchester United a boost in their pursuit of midfielder Sandro Tonali. (Sun), external
'Hierarchy clearly expects strong finish'published at 18:00 BST 31 March
18:00 BST 31 March
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
From the outside looking in, it may appear that Newcastle's season is as good as over.
That is certainly not the view within the club.
Not only will Eddie Howe be desperate to generate some momentum and finish the campaign on a high - the hierarchy, clearly, expects a strong return from the final seven games of the season.
Newcastle will feel the financial hit of likely missing out on the Champions League, but qualifying for Europe remains a priority target.
It is still a realistic one, too, with Newcastle just four points off seventh place.
Newcastle were fighting on four fronts as recently as last month, but Howe's side will be afforded more recovery time and more time on the training pitches in the coming weeks.
CEO David Hopkinson maintained "we are not distracting ourselves with speculation about what we may or may not do in the summer".
However, given the glowing terms chief executive has previously spoken about Howe, who he called a "special" manager in December, it was not exactly a resounding show of faith.
Huge gap still to bridgepublished at 14:09 BST 31 March
14:09 BST 31 March
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Newcastle CEO David Hopkinson has been speaking following the release of the club's latest set of financial results for the year ending June 2025.
The accounts detail how the sale of the leasehold to St James' Park and adjacent land to PZ Holdings Limited, a subsidiary company, contributed to the club posting a £34.7m profit after tax.
The club insist this was carried out with a view to either redeveloping the stadium or building a new ground, rather than complying with the Premier League's outgoing profitability and sustainability rules (PSR).
Newcastle's chief financial officer Simon Capper said "the motivation was very much to reorganise our property assets and get them into the correct legal boxes to allow us to go forward with our potential development and to facilitate that with financing".
Newcastle ultimately announced club-record revenues of £335.3m, but still have a huge gap to bridge on the status quo.
Liverpool, by comparison, generated £703m in the same period, while Manchester City brought in more in commercial revenue (£340.4m) than Newcastle raised in overall income.
It is a timely reminder of the challenge Newcastle face to somehow realise Hopkinson's vision of competing for the biggest prizes by 2030.
"When I think about our competitors, they are formidable and they have already got a head start on us, but all they've got is a head start on us and we've got a tremendous opportunity for growth right in front of us," he added.
"We've used the phrase 'headroom' in terms of a player budget, but what I also look at is the commercial opportunity. We have significant headroom to catch up.
"It means we've got work harder. We've got to work smarter with high conviction and energy every single day to capture that headroom. We've got to catch these guys."
'Any player under contract is going to leave on our terms'published at 11:35 BST 31 March
11:35 BST 31 March
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Newcastle United still have seven games to play this season as they bid to make a late push for a European spot.
The club are planning for both eventualities in the transfer market, whether they qualify or miss out.
Eddie Howe has been involved in planning for these scenarios alongside sporting director Ross Wilson, with another busy summer on the cards.
Newcastle need to strengthen the ageing spine of the side while there are also doubts surrounding the long-term futures of a number of key players, including midfielder Sandro Tonali.
The Italian effectively has four years left on his contract - if Newcastle trigger a 12-month extension, as expected - which puts the club in a strong position.
But it was just last summer that Newcastle - eventually - buckled and sold top scorer Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a British-record £125m after he went "on strike" to force through a move to Anfield.
David Hopkinson was appointed as chief executive a few weeks after Isak's exit and felt it was a "good sale" - even if Newcastle have struggled to adapt to life without the striker after spending a combined £124m on forwards Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa.
Strategic player trading is clearly going to become a key part of Newcastle's model moving forward, but Hopkinson warned any individuals seeking a move will not simply get their way.
"If an Isak-like scenario presents itself again, any player under contract is going to leave on our terms," said Hopkinson.
"We're going to maximise the opportunity that might represent for the club."
Image source, Getty Images
