​LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 24: Newcastle United Head Coach Eddie Howe watches on during the Premier League match between Fulham and Newcastle United at Craven Cottage on May 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images) Newcastle United’s summer rebuild has already become one of the sport’s biggest talking points, and it could leave Eddie Howe on the outside looking in. Howe’s time at Newcastle began brightly, reached a peak with a Carabao Cup triumph, but ultimately collapsed as NUFC failed to qualify for any European competition last season and finished outside the top half of the Premier League. Now, with Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali already sold, and Bruno likely to depart if Arsenal submit the reported £80 million bid, the squad could look entirely different next season. So much so that former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider’s Oliver Walton that Newcastle’s squad has so many questions that Howe might effectively need to build a new starting eleven. “I wrote down the Newcastle team,” Brown said. “There isn’t a single player in the lineup without questions. Right-back is a problem with the captain gone; Livramento has injuries, and there’s talk of a move. Dan Burn is 34 now… Botman has been unsettled by injuries, and the situation with him isn’t clear. Harvey Barnes comes in on the left, performs well, but then drops out, and there’s talk of him moving. Woltemade isn’t delivering, and they’re not happy with the youngster they brought in from Brentford (Wissa). We’ve worked our way through the team, and you can see they’d be looking for a new one. This is a side built by the world’s wealthiest owners, but the constraints have again complicated things and haven’t helped Newcastle. It almost feels like they need an entirely new starting eleven. He’s got a real challenge, the manager, because a rebuild isn’t about minor tinkering. Joelinton, too, struggled with injuries in the second half of the season. Every position in the squad carries questions, and when that’s the case, you’ve got major problems.” Brown highlighted the right-back spot, where Kieran Trippier has left and Tino Livramento’s injury issues loom while links to a move away persist. He also questioned Sven Botman’s fitness and Dan Burn’s age. Further up the pitch, Harvey Barnes’ future remains uncertain, and Newcastle’s attacking options appear more unsettled than settled. While Howe fought for his job last season and stayed on as manager for the coming campaign, it’s fair to say he will begin the year already under heavy scrutiny. Football Insider reported that Howe could come under serious pressure if Newcastle begins the season poorly.