Howe won them a trophy after a gazillion years. He has gone in under extreme expectation, and has managed to give them that and chumps footy, so far.
You underestimate his abilities.
Ideally you keep your best players, but in this crazy psr world, selling players for top money is a way to break through.
Yes, it is manipulated by the cartel to be that way, but if they sell Tino and Isak for near 230 million, that is a tremendous bit of business for them.
I quietly wonder which clubs are laughing at which if those transfers both go through.
Newcastle are in a well placed position of having relative success but without realistic expectations of it.
The fans will pressure them to make a dent in the chumps and cups, but treading water for a few years isn't a bad thing as the club increases turnover and becomes an attractive proposition for players and advertisers.
Younger players will view Newcastle differently if they can keep elevating their profile and chances of success.
At some point, supporters are right to question the direction of their football club. What is the long-term vision? Is the ambition to establish themselves among the elite - consistently challenging for titles and competing with Europe's best or to follow the model of clubs like Brighton, who buy low, develop talent, and sell high?
There’s nothing inherently wrong with smart recruitment and sustainable business models. But when a club with newfound resources and aspirations to break into the top tier begins selling its best players especially to direct rivals, then that does send a concerning message. Players like Benjamin Sesko, for example may look at situations like this and begin to question the trajectory of a club like Newcastle United. If a club appears willing to part with its top talents, what message does that send to those considering a move?
Take the hypothetical sale of Alexander Isak. Even if Newcastle were to receive £150 million, such a move would undermine the image of a club with serious intent. It would suggest that Newcastle are not yet ready to compete with, or resist the pull of established powerhouses. It becomes less about being part of something lasting, and more about using the club as a platform or a stepping stone to boost their value and reputation before securing a move elsewhere.
For a club aspiring to be part of football’s elite, that perception can be damaging. The best players want to be part of a destination, not a transition.
Clubs like us have built our dominance by refusing to part with key players. If Real Madrid came calling, City wouldn't entertain offers for the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo/David Silva, or Sergio Agüero in their prime. They drew a line. They signalled to the Football World that our top talent are untouchable - because winning, not selling, was the priority.
Newcastle United must decide which narrative they wish to write. Selling players like Isak, no matter the price, risks casting the club in a role it surely wishes to move beyond: a club on the rise, but not yet among the truly elite. These next few weeks will be massive for Newcastle United.
