Newcastle have had talks to sign £70m British star

Boos have become commonplace for Eddie Howe and his Newcastle United squad when the full-time whistle screeches.

The Magpies have lost four Premier League games on the trot, and the chances of playing out on the continent next season after almost negligible for the 14th-place side.

Inevitably, Howe’s future has been a hot topic on Tyneside, and while many feel like PIF will enforce a change this summer, the manager has stressed that the Saudi Arabian owners’ desire to succeed is “unchanged”.

But something does have to give, and with Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali both facing uncertain futures at St. James’ Park, the Magpies need to bring in some star quality.

Newcastle lining up Tonali replacement

Tonali clearly wants to leave Newcastle this summer. The Italian midfielder’s agent drummed up interest in January – Arsenal were interested – and could fund much of United’s summer strategy if sold.

It doesn’t seem likely that skipper Bruno Guimaraes would be allowed to depart too, so a counterpoint in the engine room could go a long way toward jump-starting this struggling crop of players next term.

According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle are among the clubs who have enquired about Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay, who has been valued at £70m by his employers.

The 29-year-old McTominay is leaning toward signing a new deal in Naples, but a packed group of Premier League suitors have made calls in recent months.

Newcastle have made their intentions clear: they want a centre-midfielder. Former academy star Elliot Anderson would be the dream, but Manchester City and Manchester United are at the front of that race, with the England star valued at £120m.

Why McTominay compares to Elliot Anderson

McTominay has enjoyed a startling rise since leaving Manchester United and moving to Italy, finishing 14th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings after securing the Scudetto for Napoli. He was crowned the Serie A MVP.

This is a potent attacking threat, but also someone who has a combative midfield style. In that, he could fill the space that Howe and co had hoped Anderson would fill.

Anderson is a more robust midfielder than McTominay, more combative and crunching in the challenge. He has the higher ceiling, but the Scotland star has relished his new talismanic responsibilities over the past few years – not just for club but for country too.

It was McTominay’s bicycle kick that kickstarted the Tartan Army’s historic win over Denmark, securing passage into the World Cup after a decades-long absence. He has been described as a “true superstar of European and world football” by content creator Adam Joseph, and rightly so at that.

Guimaraes likes to get forward, but McTominay is an expert in timing his runs and packing an energetic punch. Alongside the Brazilian’s artful conducting from the heart of midfield, Howe’s system could thrive once again – should the English coach indeed stay at St. James’ Park.

Some might have reservations over McTominay’s previous up-and-down efforts in the Premier League, but he has come on leaps and bounds since leaving Old Trafford, and if he joins Newcastle this summer, he will do so as a more mature and rounded player, someone who has embraced responsibility and won titles because of it.

He’s not just a poacher, though. The Scot’s off-the-ball aggression and his dynamism when affecting attacking areas suggests that he could actually prove a better signing than Anderson for Newcastle. Not only would he be £50m cheaper, but he would also fit a role that the club need filled, a real danger from the centre.

Newcastle have a big summer ahead of them, and no mistake. They need quality, and they need leaders. In McTominay, they would find both.