Newcastle now “very close” to sealing 2nd summer deal

Newcastle United’s summer break might be here, but

Eddie Howe isn’t likely to be kicking his feet up over the next few months, having overseen a disappointing season on Tyneside.

It’s not hyperbolic to say that Howe came within a whisker of being sacked during the later stages of the 2025/26 campaign. Newcastle fell by the wayside after hitting such heights, and now they need to pull themselves back up to their former title-winning position.

It should go without saying that Howe will need to ensure Newcastle are spotless on the transfer front this summer. Should they fail to effectively rebuild their squad, PIF are bound to ring a change or two.

It’s not going to be easy. Anthony Gordon has already been sold, and now the likes of Lewis Hall and Sandro Tonali are finding themselves linked with a summer departure from St. James’ Park.

Newcastle close to completing 2nd summer deal

Newcastle have already completed their first summer signing. Aaron Ramsdale has left Tyneside at the end of his loan spell, and Ewan Jaouen has been signed from from Stade de Reims in Ligue 2 for a fee just shy of £20m. Such is his potential.

But Newcastle need more. The recent news that Tonali is interested in joining Tottenham Hotspur stings, if we’re being honest, but it’s something that the Toon need to face up to and combat. The Italian is a core part of Howe’s engine room.

Newcastle need to find a new high-level midfielder, but keeping Hall on the books feels more non-negotiable, even as the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United vie for the £70m-rated signature.

After all, Gordon now plays for Barcelona, and Howe and technical director Ross Wilson have already found the perfect replacement on the left wing.

According to the ever-reliable Craig Hopea deal for Osasuna winger Victor Munoz is edging toward the finish line, “very close” to being completed, though putting the finishing touches on a move may be somewhat stressful given his participation in the ongoing World Cup.

A deal could be wrapped up for around £30m, and now that Real Madrid have passed on the option to re-sign their one-time youth product, it does look like Howe could secure his top target from the off.

Why Munoz can be perfect for Hall at Newcastle

Munoz is only 22 years old, but he is quickly emerging as one of the most exciting young wingers in Europe, someone who has gone from strength to strength in La Liga this season and dazzled with his pace and potency and combative edge.

The Spain international, who scored on his first cap earlier in 2026, would take Newcastle’s left channel to a new level, combining with Hall and establishing a coherent and symbiotic partnership.

Hall, described as having “all the attributes to become one of the best left-backs in the world” by former Newcastle teammate Kieran Trippier, is an able defender and an athletic runner up the touchline. Aged 21, he is already so mature, and he would help Munoz settle in while allowing him to spread his wings and star in Gordon’s place.

He might not represent a significant improvement on Gordon in the final third – yet – but Munoz is arguably more robust and active across different phases of play.

The fact that he gets stuck in and helps defend while making any number of plays into the danger area – more, in fact, than Gordon – suggests that the Spaniard could actually enhance Newcastle’s build-up structure, working with Hall to iron out the imbalances that resulted in a 12th-place Premier League finish.

Newcastle have been slandered for their inability to hold onto leads this summer. To fix that problem, Howe needs to strike a balance that permeates every area of the pitch.

Someone like Munoz could help there. He’s not a defender, but he is an uncontainable winger with superstar potential, and his arrival could bear dividends for a Magpies side who have lost their way.