Newcastle United have been completely out of the race throughout the 2025/26 season, but if Eddie Howe can get his summer transfer strategy right, they could be back in title-winning form soon.
It’s safe to say that this glass-half-full outlook is not shared by everyone of the Magpies’ persuasion, who must feel as if they are living in Groundhog Day, with Victor Muñoz stolen from them by Liverpool, Anthony Gordon sold to Barcelona, and Sandro Tonali currently being pursued by the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
Eddie Howe’s Premier League journey with Newcastle | ||
|---|---|---|
season | point | league standings |
25/26 | 49 | 11th |
24/25 | 66 | 5th place |
23/24 | 60 | 7th place |
22/23 | 71 | 4th place |
21/22* | 49 | 11th |
But Thun has plenty of time to fix the problem. Because we can’t afford another subpar season. Howe cannot survive like that.
Newcastle need to start adding real quality to their first team.
Newcastle have confirmed they will accept a bid to replace Muñoz.
Muñoz would have been a fantastic signing, but he is not the only winger on Newcastle’s shortlist, with Real Betis’ Said El Mara and Eze Abdeh also on the list.
However, his right flank was somewhat neglected last season as he struggled to establish a smooth link-up with the forwards. Anthony Elanga and Jacob Murphy both flattered and deceived.
According to Italy’s AS Roma Live, the line of suitors for Porto winger William Gomez is getting longer and longer, with Newcastle joining Italy’s Juventus and, you guessed it, Roma also joining the race.
Arsenal and Manchester United are also keen but appear to be focused on different goals, which could give Howe and company a clearer target than they have become accustomed to over the past 12 months.
Gomez, 20, has an €80m (about £69m) release clause in his contract, but it is understood his Portuguese employers would be open to an offer of around €45m (about £39m).
Why Gomez could be a better player than Munoz
It hasn’t been that long since Gomez was on the major stage with Porto. In fact, he only established himself in the first team last season, enjoying eight substitute appearances the previous year.
Hailed as a “world-class” talent by one Brazilian journalist, Gomez is still improving, as evidenced by his starting just nine games in La Liga last season.
But no one can doubt his prolific potential. Throughout the season he scored eight goals, but only missed one big chance.
League form comparison (2025/26) | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (* per 90) | Muñoz | gomez |
Match (start) | 34(31) | 28(9) |
Goal + Assist | 6+2 | 8+1 |
touch* | 40.3 | 22.6 |
Number of shots (on target)* | 2.4 (0.9) | 1.5(0.6) |
Exact path* | 14.8 (81%) | 7.6 (70%) |
A big opportunity has arisen | 2 | 6 |
Key pass* | 0.8 | 0.5 |
It was successful. dribble* | 2.2 | 0.8 |
Ball recovery rate* | 2.8 | 1.6 |
Tackle + Interception* | 0.9 | 1.2 |
Win a duel* | 4.9 | 2.7 |
In contrast, Muñoz has only scored six goals in La Liga, which coincidentally matches Gordon’s goalscoring tally in the last two Premier League seasons. Howe may want to develop Gomez’s dynamism and progressive metrics, but Newcastle lacked an edge in the final third last season and he could be a game-changer in that regard.
It’s clear from early readings that the young left-footed Brazilian likes to score goals and that’s why he’s fueling Newcastle’s intrigue.
He also likes to create chances for his team-mates and points to all the pieces Howe could use to create another superstar on the right flank. The frustrating part, of course, is that he could have formed a destructive partnership with Muñoz, as he is typically a right-winger, but perhaps that’s where either El Mara or Eze Abdeh will come in.
Gomez’s physicality and sometimes brutal personality on the right wing shaped him into a force to be reckoned with early in his career.
The fact that the fleet-footed Elanga is already operating in the same area could actually work in Gomez’s favor, allowing him to develop at Newcastle in the Premier League and make an impact on the resurgent Magpies squad next season.
Better than Munoz: Newcastle in new talks with £51m winger
Newcastle want to forget about their failure to sign Victor Munoz.

