Newcastle United’s mighty £168m summer 2024 transfer window - according to Football Manager

Newcastle United have endured a challenging start to the new season - but there is still plenty to be positive about for the men from St. James’ Park.

After heading into the international break on the back of defeats against tricky opposition Liverpool, Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion, the Magpies will hope to get back to winning ways when they entertain Brentford on Saturday week, before their focus switches to a Champions League clash with AC Milan.

Summer signings like Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes will hope to impress during what is a big season on Tyneside - but who could join Eddie Howe’s latest additions in the Magpies squad next summer as the look to continue building momentum?

We fired up Football Manager 2023 to see how the Magpies will act next summer, once their transfer kitty is significantly boosted by lucrative Champions League prize money and tasty new sponsorship deals.

Some unexpected departures

There were some surprise departures from St. James’ Park as midfielder Sean Longstaff was allowed to join Nottingham Forest in a £15million deal and he was joined at the City Ground by a familiar face as Jamaal Lascelles returned to his former club when his contract came to an end.

Fellow centre-back Fabian Schar also headed out of the door on a free transfer as he joined Serie A club Napoli and Emil Krafth’s time as a Magpie came to a close with a move to Feyenoord after his contract came to a close. Loris Karius, Matt Ritchie, Mark Gillespie, Paul Dummett and Javier Manquillo were also released but are yet to find new clubs.

One player that remained on Tyneside was striker Callum Wilson after the England star agreed a new two-year deal at St. James’ Park just weeks before his current contract was set to come to an end.

Perhaps the biggest surprises came with Miguel Almiron’s £27million move to La Liga club Atletico Madrid and a £32m deal that took Joelinton to RB Leipzig - although their replacements at St. James’ Park more than made up for their exits.

Midfield reinforcements arrive

The departures of Longstaff and Joelinton left Howe with some big calls to make in the transfer market but he wasted little time in bolstering his options in the middle of the park by completing two big money deals.

Firstly, the United boss saw off competition from Liverpool, AC Milan, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund to complete a £39.5million deal for Nice star Khephren Thuram as the France star finally earned a move to the Premier League.

And was a reunion of old friends after West Ham United were persuaded to part company with Brazil international Lucas Paqueta almost two years after he looked set to join Bruno Guimaraes at St. James’ Park.

Building at the back

Martin Dubravka spent the season acting as backup to regular number one Nick Pope but the departures of Loris Karius and Mark Gillespie forced Howe back into the transfer market.

Croatia international Dominik Livakovic was the man chose to provide Pope’s main competition as an £8.5million deal brought him to Tyneside and limited his stay at Turkish giants Fenerbache to just one season.

There was a significant defensive capture as United handed over £52million to sign Bayern Munich centre-back Dayot Upaemacano, who will look to form a strong partnership alongside Sven Botman. Tottenham Hotspur’s Eric Dier also completed a free transfer switch to St. James’ Park, after the versatile England international fell out of favour in north London.

Another Brazilian star lands in a club record deal

The Magpies saved their biggest deal for the final day of the window as they completed a move to sign Barcelona star Raphinha.

The former Leeds United winger made a £68million switch to St. James’ Park as Howe replaced Almiron with a player that can boast Premier League and Champions League experience. The move rounded off a £168million spend as the Magpies squad was strengthened with quality across the pitch.