Trafford and Mbeumo in, Isak gone – Newcastle predicted XI for 1st 25/26 match
Newcastle United will be hoping they can continue their progress into a new era during the 2025/26 season but may have to do so without their star talisman.
Victory over Liverpool at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday (16 March) saw the Magpies end their long wait for a domestic trophy and the hope now for those at St James’ Park is that this is just the first of many major honours in the years to come.
To do that Newcastle will no doubt have to strengthen their squad even further come the summer transfer window. However, they may also find it difficult to keep some of their key players, who are inevitably going to attract interest thanks to their exploits for Eddie Howe’s side.
Football Insider has reported top scorer Alexander Isak has “genuine” interest from Liverpool, while also being a top target for Arsenal, and a move to the side who look destined to win the Premier League this season may well be tempting for the Swede, certainly if Newcastle miss out on Champions League qualification come the end of this season.
Meanwhile, Tino Livramento is understood to be attracting interest from Man City and may have to be sold to avoid PSR breaches.
If those exits do happen though, it ought to bring in fresh funds that can be invested by Howe in strengthening his squad during the summer as well.
So here is a look at how Football Insider predicts Newcastle will line up on the opening day of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
James Trafford
With their two first choice goalkeepers, Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka, entering the final 12 months of their contracts in the summer, the Magpies could consider cashing in. That would leave them needing a replacement between the posts, and Newcastle are working on a deal to sign James Trafford from Burnley Mick Brown has exclusively told Football Insider. The 22-year-old gained Premier League experience last season, and has been part of the meanest defence in the country during the current campaign, which could make him the ideal replacement at St James’ Park.
Kieran Trippier
While he has had some moments to forget this season, Trippier still remains a regular presence in defence for Eddie Howe’s side. The 34-year-old offers plenty of experience, and showed with his assist in the Carabao Cup final that he can still make major contributions in big games, which may help him keep a place in the side going into the start of next season, especially should Livramento be lost.
Fabian Schar
Schar is another who has remained a regular presence in the backline for the Magpies for several years now, and has become a popular figure among the fanbase in the process. The experienced Swiss international recently had his contract at St James’ Park extended and so may once again be part of the side come next season.
Sven Botman
Botman missed the glory moment of the Carabao Cup final due to injury, but ought to be back well before the summer. That ought to give him plenty of time to get back up to fitness prior to the start of the new campaign, where given the reliability he has previously shown, Howe will surely want him to form part of the starting XI.
Dan Burn
With Lewis Hall out for the season with a foot problem, it remains to be seen when the left-back will be back in action. Combine that with the potential departure of Livramento, and Newcastle may well be turning to Dan Burn to fill in at left-back come the start of next season. With his excellent form earning him and England call-up and after his goal and Player of the Match performance in the Carabao Cup final, that is unlikely to be something they will worry about.
Newcastle United midfield must be held together after huge success
Bruno Guimaraes
The Magpies’ captain showed just how much the club means to him with his emotional and passionate celebrations at full time at Wembley at the weekend. The Brazilian is another to have become a hero to the masses in the north east on the back of his contributions for the club, and he is one they will surely stand firm to keep given the emerging importance of the midfield trio he is part of, especially if funds are raised through other departures, and Bruno has been backed to sign a Newcastle extension.
Sandro Tonali
Having returned to the side earlier this season after being slapped with a long ban for betting shortly after arriving at the club, Tonali has shown Newcastle what they missed in his absence. The Italian has again been a key cog in the midfield three that is working so well for Howe right now, and they may hope to draw on the success he previously had with AC Milan as well, as they now look to challenge towards the very top of English football on a consistent basis.
Joelinton
There are few individual turnarounds in football that have been as remarkable as that of Joelinton. The Brazilian flopped as a striker when he first arrived at St James’ Park, but has since become an outstanding and vital presence in the side as a midfielder. It is a positional change that makes him one of the most important players in this team, and means he looks certain to be part of the starting XI when the 2025/26 campaign gets underway.
Alexander Isak replacements to be vital
Bryan Mbeumo
This has been yet another excellent season in the Premier League with Brentford for Mbeumo, where he has made a big impact with both goals and assists. That means the Cameroon international will be in demand come the summer, and Brown has told Football Insider Newcastle are apparently willing to meet Brentford’s asking price for Mbeumo. If they are going to splash out on him he will surely start so they can get a return on their investment, even if that does mean a rather harsh omission for Jacob Murphy, who has already been brilliant for Howe’s side throughout much of this season.
Liam Delap
Losing Isak would make a new centre-forward a priority at St James’ Park, and Newcastle are plotting a move to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, Brown has exclusively told Football Insider. Despite the Tractor Boys looking set for an immediate relegation this season, the former Man City man has proven himself to be a threat in front of goal at this level. That suggests he may thrive even more in a team where he has better players around him as he would with the Magpies, and so could make him a very decent alternative to lead the line for Howe’s side.
Anthony Gordon
Another who there can be absolutely no doubt will have to start for the Magpies when the new campaign gets underway. Gordon has been a potent attacking threat for Howe’s side since the start of last season, meaning his presence on the teamsheet when fit and available now feels like a certainty. Indeed, having missed the cup final through suspension, the 24-year-old may also feel he has a personal point to prove in his side’s trophy hunt from next season.
There is no denying that the loss of Isak in particular would be a major blow for Newcastle, but the more he scores goals, the more speculation is likely to continue. Even so, with Howe in charge and the potential to reinvest money from such sales, the Magpies will still believe they can put together a squad capable of being competitive again in the 2025/26 campaign.