Newcastle United's new head coach Matthias Jaissle has a packed agenda after being confirmed as Eddie Howe's successor. The German coach was officially appointed last night, with the final details of his move from Al-Ahli completed. He will lead the team against Valencia on Saturday night, kicking off a busy fortnight that includes friendlies against Everton, Bayer Leverkusen, and Strasbourg before the Premier League opener against Liverpool.
Replacing Bruno Guimaraes
The most pressing issue is finding a replacement for Bruno Guimaraes, whose £75m move to Arsenal has left a void in midfield. Guimaraes was a talisman for Howe's side, and Newcastle's results without him were dramatically worse. While Sean Steur has shown promise in pre-season, his performances against Gateshead and Bristol City are not definitive proof of readiness.
Newcastle are unlikely to spend all the money from Arsenal on one player due to financial rules, but Jaissle is reportedly targeting Luka Susic, who he worked with at RB Salzburg. Borussia Dortmund's Felix Nmecha and Porto's Victor Froholdt may be out of reach, but Susic and Stuttgart's Angelo Stiller are potential options.
Captaincy and Leadership Group
Guimaraes also vacated the captain's armband, leaving a leadership gap. Dan Burn is the clear choice, but his regular starting spot is uncertain at 34. Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman, and Lewis Hall are candidates, with Hall's appointment potentially persuading him to stay long-term. Jacob Murphy has deputised in pre-season but isn't guaranteed a start, and Lewis Miley could be a strong bet.
The leadership group needs new blood after the departures of Sandro Tonali, Guimaraes, and Kieran Trippier. Nick Pope could leave, and Everton are interested in Murphy. Harvey Barnes has embraced a senior role, while Botman and Thiaw must step up. Expect new recruits to join the leadership group as Jaissle's reign begins.
Exit Door and Squad Vision
Newcastle can't afford to lose many more players, but time is running out to move on surplus players. Pope may seek a new club after Lukas Hornicek's arrival, while Joe Willock and Murphy have been linked with exits. The squad will need additions if anyone leaves.
Jaissle has been working with the squad in La Manga while awaiting confirmation. He must quickly sell his vision, expectations, and results to the players, and send a clear message to those considering following Anthony Gordon, Tonali, and Guimaraes out the door. His past work shows he can motivate, and this is one of his first big challenges.
Winning Over the Fans
The Newcastle faithful adored Howe, but they will give Jaissle a chance to earn their support. There is apprehension after three big names left and relatively unknown youngsters arrived. The remaining four pre-season games offer a glimpse, but the real test comes when Liverpool visit St James' Park on August 23. United don't have to win, but they must show the 52,000 fans and the Sky TV audience what they're about.
