Newcastle United have been on quite the ride since Eddie Howe replaced Steve Bruce in the hot seat back in 2021, carrying a fallen outfit back into European competition and even beating Liverpool at Wembley to win the Carabao Cup in 2025.
The events of the past year have sent the Magpies crashing back down to earth, but Matthias Jaissle is determined to successfully implement his aggressive “vertical” style of football, and he’s picked up eight points from 15 available.
The rebuild was always going to take time. So much changed on Tyneside this summer, with Howe’s superstars all stripped away.
How Jaissle is rebuilding Newcastle
The essence of Howe’s outfit may be no more, but Jaissle is a new manager, and he’s already starting to get a tune out of the fresh parts on Tyneside.
Technically, the 38-year-old arrived halfway through the summer of sweeping changes. When Newcastle slumped to a 12th-place finish in the Premier League, it convinced Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes.
These felt like detrimental departures at the time, but the Magpies may well have completed some good business. Take Sandro Tonali, for example. The Italian’s start to life at Tottenham Hotspur has been a disaster, and after joining for £100m, Newcastle must surely be laughing.
However, the rebuild is going well. Sean Steur looks at steal at £23m, and Nico Gonzalez has the potential to develop into the superstar Manchester City thought they were landing when they brought him over from Porto 18 months ago.
Of course, this is work-in-progress, and the Toon still need to make further gains.
Where Newcastle still need to strengthen
Sadly, Sven Botman does not look like the same mighty centre-half who once played with such gusto under Howe’s wing at Newcastle. In fact, Newcastle have looked porous in defence so far this season.
PIF triumphed in resisting Manchester United’s summer advances for Lewis Hall at left-back, but the focus on rebuilding up top and in midfield has left the backline somewhat patchy, and that has been reflected over the first phase of the season.
Newcastle are one of four teams to have made more than one direct error leading to a goal in the Premier League this season, and it does feel like they have switched off at key moments when under the cosh.
These things will come with time, but the Toon know that they may also need to invest futher in a backline that is not what it once was. Indeed, Jaissle is already turning toward the future summer transfer window.
Newcastle ready to sign the new Tonali
Fabian Schar and Dan Burn are two of Newcastle’s most experienced players, but neither are spring chickens any more, and it’s high time that technical director Ross Wilson pieces the Toon’s defence back together.
|
Eddie Howe’s Most-used Players at Newcastle |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Apps |
Goals + Assists |
|
Bruno Guimaraes |
195 |
31 + 33 |
|
Dan Burn |
193 |
10 + 10 |
|
Jacob Murphy |
183 |
20 + 31 |
|
Fabian Schar |
175 |
15 + 9 |
|
Joelinton |
172 |
25 + 15 |
St. James’ Park needs fresh life, and perhaps Newcastle will find what they are looking for in Giorgio Scalvini, with TEAMtalk reporting that his fresh contract with Atalanta in Italy has not deterred a host of Premier League suitors in accelerating their interest.
Back in July, it was reported that Newcastle were in pole position to sign Scalvini, who has been priced at £38m.
The Italy international, 23, is a dynamic and modern-tailored defender. In Serie A last season, he ranked among the top 6% of positional peers in the league in 2025/26 for chances created and the top 5% for dribbles completed per 90. Effortless athleticism and an innate defensive awareness led Chelsea and Tottenham to lodge official enquiries this summer.
Tonali, 26, enjoyed himself at Newcastle, with his brand of Italian passing and maestro-like ability feeding right into Howe’s system. Scalvini’s impact under Jaissle would be twofold: he would raise the bar defensively while assisting the squad in their build-up play.
Scalvini is the real deal, and still has enough potential ahead of him to develop into the kind of superstar that Newcastle need at the back.
Tonali has already shown that exciting Italian talent can develop into something special on Tyneside, and now, Scalvini could follow suit, with so much groundwork already laid.
