The end of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign is now almost here and it does not matter which way you slice it, it has been a poor year for Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe with plenty of struggles on the pitch, but links to West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen could raise a few smiles during the summer off season period.
With just two games remaining in the year, Newcastle sit in 13th place in the top flight table and although we are more than clear of the battle at the bottom with a ten point buffer to the drop zone, two wins now could significantly push us up the table towards the top eight spots and change the perspective on the year we have just had.
Whilst fans were buoyed by a very good run to the last 16 stage of the Champions League tournament and fans who used IvyBet to predict that would be very pleased with themselves – ultimately we lost out to Spanish La Liga giants Barcelona – it is undeniable that our European nights under the lights have seriously impacted our PL form and consistency this term.
It has not been the only distraction that our gaffer has had to deal with as the whole Anthony Gordon toys, pram, bathwater, diving for a penalty shenanigans have more than taken their toll on everyone’s patience and with ongoing departure speculation, the bright light is strong links emerging suggesting that Jarrod Bowen would be our ideal replacement.
The 29 year old, 22 capped England international attacker, has been a shining light for West Ham United in their incredibly poor campaign and with two games left they are sat in 18th place in the drop zone and two points from safety. Across all competitions so far this campaign he has played 40 times, scoring ten goals and providing eleven assists, and the Hammers have been able to bat off the regular summer interest that they have faced for him in the past, but relegation would surely end the ‘not for sale’ standpoint.
Obviously with the interest shown in him previously there will definitely be other clubs in the mix for his services, but with the expectation that Gordon will be moving on to German Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich – or another top European side – there is a place tailor made for him in our starting XI and it is not much of a guess to think that he would thrive even more at St James Park.
However, much still hangs on what ultimately happens with fellow England international and 25 year old Gordon here, as we already know that Newcastle have been significantly hamstrung by financial fair play rules and our Saudi Arabian owners have not been able to flex the muscles that their wealth gives them. On a distraction front there is also all the LIV Golf blow back as they themselves cut costs and expenditures and we have to see how that effects us moving forward.
With there again being an expectation that Newcastle need to sell despite the CL riches working their way into our pockets, the only real question is whether or not Gordon on his own would solve that equation.
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