Paul mitchell's last act as newcastle supremo and steve nickson board decision

THE MAGPIES ARE SET FOR A RESHUFLE UPSTAIRS BUT WHO STAYS AND WHO CONTINUES THE GOOD WORK THEY'VE ALREADY ACHIEVED 17:00, 27 May 2025 Newcastle United sporting director Paul Mitchell

officially leaves on June 30 - less than a year into his tenure as the club's transfer supremo. Unless, Newcastle conclude a deal next month, Mitchell could complete his time at St

James' Park without making a major signing. As things stand there are thought to be deals active and agents waiting for decisions. Significantly, head coach Eddie Howe spoke of

"speed" being important ahead of the summer window and that targets will not "hang around" if Newcastle don't make their moves soon. But there are other deals that

still lie in the balance. CALLUM WILSON The striker was not offered an extension to the existing terms of the contract he signed in 2023. Eddie Howe hinted that talks would resume but it has

since emerged that an incentive based deal may be on the table. With Wilson likely to get more solid offers from other clubs, including Premier League sides with Leeds interested, he could

be departing as things stand. Whether this is rectified now Mitchell is set to leave remains to be seen. Article continues below But Howe has underlined Wilson's importance in the past

and said on Sunday: "He's never someone you'd want to lose from the group, but obviously there are challenges that we face as a football club, financial challenges with PSR,

with a whole host of different decisions to make, and that's why I said let's wait and see what happens." SEAN LONGSTAFF It's understood that Paul Mitchell was open to

cashing in on Sean Longstaff in January but no deal became close. Everton, Leeds and Man United are hovering for a player who will see his current deal run out in 12 months. Howe has said

that Longstaff's future is in his own hands and he has a year left to impress to extend his stay. Whether Howe opts to extend his contract and settle the North Shields born midfielder

down remains to be seen. GOALKEEPING DECISIONS Newcastle have been heavily linked with Joan Garcia of Espanyol in recent days, will Mitchell's departure see this deal hit the buffers?

Or will Howe proceed and complete it? Howe has admitted publicly that the club must look to trim the goalkeeping department. The Magpies would need to offload at least one keeper to make the

deal realistic for Garcia with Odysseas Vlachodimos the favourite to leave St James' Park. Howe also likes Aaron Ramsdale who has a £25m release caluse and the arrival of the

ex-Bournemouth keeper he's worked with before would be a big indicator on who is calling the shots. Holding on to John Ruddy as a squad man/mentor may also be something Howe wants to do

after the ex-Norwich man's move proved a success behind the scenes this season. A REJIG UPSTAIRS? OR STICK WITH FAMILIAR FACES? If Mitchell goes, the club can either follow the same

path with the CEO vacancy and replace him, or rejig what Newcastle already have. Howe's nephew is assistant head of first team recruitment and Steve Nickson, who helped signed stars

like Joelinton and Bruno Guimarares, is head of the department. A combination of Nickson, Andy Howe and the current backroom team would not be the worst decision. The last thing Newcastle

need is the arrival of another high profile sporting director that will blur the lines. Article continues below