Newcastle ultimately avoided the worst of the relegation battle in the 2018-19 Premier League, with Steve Bruce having replaced Rafael Benitez as manager.
Following the Spaniard's exit, there is little optimism around the north east of positive times ahead at St James’ Park in the 2019-20 season – though the club did purchase Joelinton from Hoffenheim for a club-record fee of £36 million, making them the last Premier League club to do transfer business.
Ahead of the upcoming campaign, Goal takes a look at Newcastle's pre-season friendly schedule, the club's transfer activity and when their Premier League push begins again.
Newcastle pre-season fixtures
| Date | Match | Time (UK / US ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17 | Wolves | 11am / 6am | Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre, Nanjing |
| Jul 20 | Manchester City or West Ham | TBC | Hongkou Stadium, Shanghai |
| Jul 27 | Preston | 3pm / 10am | Deepdale, Preston |
| Jul 30 | Hibernian | 7:45pm / 2:45pm | Easter Road, Edinburgh |
| Aug 3 | Saint-Etienne | 3pm / 10am | St James' Park, Newcastle |
Newcastle have confirmed their participation in the Premier League Asia Trophy, which acts as a mini-tournament that will take place in China over the summer.
Their first encounter will be against Wolves in Nanjing on July 17. They will then play a second match in Shanghai on July 20 – either a final or a third-place playoff – against Manchester City or West Ham United.
A trip to Scotland comes after their Asian excursion, with a game against Scottish Premiership side Hibernian, with the final warm-up coming at home to Ligue 1 outfit Saint-Etienne.
Newcastle 2019-20 transfer activity
Newcastle have most hotly been linked with Reims striker Remi Oudin. Club Brugge forward Wesley and David Okereke of Spezia are other potential targets as the club seek value for money in the market.
Full-back is an area where the club wish to strengthen, with Mario Fernandez of CSKA Moscow one of their top targets in this regard. Fulham’s Joe Bryan is another possibility in this role.
Getty ImagesMeanwhile, midfielders Juan Mata (Manchester United) and Joao Mario (Inter) have been tentatively associated with the club.
Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Kevin Trapp, who has spent the season on loan with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt, is being touted around Europe and could be a target for the Magpies.
In terms of players leaving the club, Sean Longstaff has been hotly linked with a move to Manchester United, while Jonjo Shelvey and Isaac Hayden are both attracting interest from West Ham.
Newcastle’s activity had remained at an impasse up until the purchase of Joelinton from Hoffenheim in late July, who became Bruce's first signing as Magpies manager.
Transfer activity in
| Position | Player | Transferred from | Fee | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FW | Joelinton | Hoffenheim | £36m | Jul 23 |
Transfer activity out
| Position | Player | Transferred to | Fee | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MF | Mohamed Diame | Released | n/a | Jul 1 |
| FW | Cal Roberts | Released | n/a | Jul 1 |
| DF | Josef Yarney | Chesterfield | free | Jul 1 |
| CF | Tyrique Bartlett | Released | n/a | Jul 1 |
| FW | Ayoze Perez | Leicester | £30m | Jul 2 |
| FW | Joselu | Alaves | £2.5m | Jul 15 |
Newcastle 2019-20 Premier League fixtures
Newcastle have been handed a difficult start to the 2019-20 Premier League season, with an opener against Arsenal and games against Tottenham and Liverpool in their first five gameweeks.
Click here to see Newcastle's full fixture list for the 2019-20 league season.