Published Aug 23, 2026, 7:10 AM GMT+1

It's only been three weeks since the 38-year-old German took the reins at St. James' Park, and it would be ridiculous to claim Newcastle aren't unprepared for the tough term ahead.

However, the Magpies have pressed factory reset, and while this team feels very different to the unit who soared to such heights under Howe's wing in recent years, there is so much potential.

Look at Aladji Bamba and Sean Steur. Two young midfielders with the world at their feet. They may not produce and sustain world-class performances from the get-go, but they boast undeniable potential that Jaissle could tap into.

How Jaissle can rebuild Newcastle's midfield

It's been a tough start. Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes have been stripped from the Newcastle midfield, drawn to separate London projects.

In their place, Newcastle have signed Bamba and Steur, two talented midfielders with contrasting profiles who have a combined age of 38 and limited experience on the major stage.

The Toon signed Steur from Ajax in a deal rising to £23m, and France U20 international Bamba has arrived from Monaco for £35m. He has been described as a "ball-winning monster" by Newcastle writer Bradley Robson.

These are exciting moves, and Bamba and Steur will surely play prominent roles throughout the term on Tyneside. But it would be incomprehensible for Newcastle to neglect their engine room before the transfer window slams shut in less than two weeks.

Many names have been bandied about. Tottenham Hotspur's Lucas Bergvall among them, but the Magpies might need someone with more experience.

Newcastle in talks to sign Premier League midfielder

Rejection after rejection. Newcastle had recently sniffed around to sign the likes of Joao Palhinha and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, veterans who could have staked a claim as the centrepiece at St. James' Park.

But it hasn't happened, and Newcastle need to pivot. According to Caught Offside, Newcastle have made contact with Manchester City for midfielder Nico Gonzalez, with negotiations expected to start at around £34m.

The Spaniard, 24, has indeed been the subject of exploratory talks between the two outfits, and while no 'formal bid' has been tabled yet, the Magpies are seriously considering making a move.

Gonzalez only earned 11 off-the-bench minutes against Arsenal in the Community Shield last weekend, emphasising the bit-part role he will likely play under Enzo Maresca.

Gonzalez joined City from Porto in February 2025 for a £50m fee. Since then, he has struggled to cement himself in City's midfield, and though Rodri has recently joined Barcelona, the Etihad side are signing any number of new midfielders, and Gonzalez may struggle to start week in and out.

But that's not to say that he's a poor player - far from it. Hailed as a "mini-Rodri" by his former manager Pep Guardiola, the 6 foot 2 midfielder has made improvements in his time spent in the Premier League, but he now needs the opportunity to establish himself as a focal point, and at St. James' Park, ahead of Bamba and Steur and Lewis Miley too, he can achieve that.

It would be ludicrous for Newcastle to throw their young additions into the deep end too quickly. The Toon are already in roiling waters, and Jaissle must handle this delicate situation with care.

By signing a ball-playing midfielder like Gonzalez, mopping up and recycling play, they could sign a complete player who incorporates elements of Bamba and Steur's games to his own.

Newcastle need someone to conduct in the middle of the park. Gonzalez can do all that and then some. His height and physicality would add presence and structure to Jaissle's midfield system, the elegance on the ball, forged in the La Masia academy, will ensure that the manager's high-octane, front-footed system fires on all cylinders.

Bamba and Steur mark excellent signings, players for the future who can still make a marked impact on Newcastle's campaign. With Gonzalez, the expectation would be stronger. It would be necessary for such a profile to arrive and start hitting the right beats from the first moment on Tyneside.