Credit: Imago

Ciaran Morrison

Fri 17 April 2026 7:00, UK

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Newcastle United are facing distractions behind-the-scenes which will not help manager Eddie Howe finish the season strongly.

That is the view of former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking to Football Insider, as uncertainty grows over the roles of Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa at the club.

Howe defended his team selection in their latest Premier League defeat at Crystal Palace, saying that he doesn’t pick his side based on transfer fees.

Woltemade and Wissa were both late substitutes at Selhurst Park, despite costing the club around £124million last summer.

Newcastle face losing key players this summer, whilst Howe’s future at the club remains uncertain, in what has been a turbulent campaign on Tyneside.

Newcastle have ‘discussions going on’ ahead of important summer

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Howe’s decision to bench Woltemade and Wissa will have been based on what he sees in training.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks the Magpies have applied “pressure” on themselves heading into the transfer window.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I’ve had these sorts of questions with managers over the years when we said, look, I’ve just paid all this money for a player that you really wanted. Why isn’t he playing?

“The answer is they watch him in training Monday to Friday. They see them and they’ve decided he didn’t fancy what he saw in training. It’s as simple as that.

“Last summer was a very difficult window for Newcastle with Alexander Isak and all the distractions going on. You do get the impression that while Wissa may have been a first choice signing, Woltemade wasn’t really a first choice. Was it Hugo Ekitike or others?

“There were a lot of discussions going on. There’s been a lot of rumours coming from Woltemade’s side that he wants back to Germany. So, it’s unsettled on the pitch and off the pitch again.

“All these things are adding up. Losing the derby against Sunderland was just something the fans don’t forget in a hurry either, and that puts the added pressure on. They’ve got to try and finish this season as strong as they can, but all these things in the background don’t bode well for a strong finish.”

Newcastle to go on summer spending spree

Whoever is Newcastle manager during the summer transfer window is expected to be backed in the market to rebuild the squad.

Sources have told Football Insider that Newcastle’s ownership will make money available to spend in order to strengthen the squad.

It will be a target for the club next season to reclaim a place in the Champions League to make up for this underwhelming campaign.

A new striker, goalkeeper, and a right-back could be just three of the priority positions for the Magpies, whilst a midfielder could also be on their radar amid the expected departure of Sandro Tonali.