It’s been quite the rollercoaster ride for Newcastle United across 2025.
Back in March, the Magpies’ long trophy drought of 70 years was finally broken, when they got the better of Arne Slot’s Liverpool 2-1 in the EFL Cup final.
The Reds would end up laughing at Newcastle’s expense, though, when winning Alexander Isak’s services late into the summer transfer window, in a transfer saga that seriously unsettled Eddie Howe’s troops.
Howe’s men have now closed off the year with an unconvincing 3-1 win at Burnley, as the Tyneside masses hope for a swift jump up the Premier League standings in the New Year, away from settling for a middling tenth spot.
The New Year also brings about the excitement of the January transfer window reopening, with Newcastle set to be potentially busy…
Newcastle remain in the race for Premier League attacker
While the scoreline would suggest that Newcastle were far too good for Burnley on Tuesday night, the Magpies were careless on the ball throughout, as seen in Anthony Gordon giving the ball away a costly 17 times.
Howe could well be in the market for some fresh attackers; therefore, as he grows ever more impatient with the ex-Everton winger, with Hoffenheim forward Bazoumana Toure rumoured to be on the Toon shopping list.
16-year-old Leicester City sensation Jeremy Monga has also reportedly caught the eye, but in terms of adding in more exciting, first-team-ready attackers, Newcastle also remain in the race to snap up Manchester City star Oscar Bobb, according to the Daily Mail.
Indeed, the report does state that Borussia Dortmund are out in front at the moment for the Nordic winger’s services, with a loan-to-buy deal around the region of £30m in the works.
However, the Black and Yellow aren’t alone in their interest, with Sevilla, Atletico Madrid, AFC Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, and Newcastle all named as being keen, as the Magpies are noted for monitoring developments.
It would be a gamble to pick up Bobb, who has had an injury-disrupted time as of late at the Etihad.
Still, the one-time Premier League title winner has shown enough glimpses of his quality in Manchester to be seen as a worthwhile swoop, anyway, as another Lewis Hall-style deal comes onto the table.
Why Bobb could be another Lewis Hall at Newcastle
When Hall arrived last summer for a whopping £28m, some eyebrows might have been raised initially, with the 5-foot-10 defender only being exposed to 12 senior Chelsea appearances, before packing his bags for the North.
Now, though, it looks to have been an inspired decision from Newcastle to pick up the two-time England international for that amount, with the 21-year-old winning a resolute six duels and completing all 100% of his dribbles as a livewire on the left.
Running the show at Old Trafford, too, on Boxing Day, when completing a mighty seven successful dribbles, it’s fair to say Hall has made that left-back spot his own now at St James’ Park, having been heralded as “one of the best left-backs in the Premier League” by scout Jacek Kulig last year.
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Bobb will pray he can storm into Howe’s starting XI in the same blistering fashion, if a January move is sealed, with the likes of Gordon and Harvey Barnes failing to impress again against Burnley, making it ever more likely he could gain regular minutes, as a winger comfortable playing down either the left or right channel.
Bobb’s numbers for City by position
Position
Games
Goals + Assists
RW
62
16 + 13
AM
31
7 + 12
LW
23
2 + 3
CF
20
5 + 8
RM
2
0
Sourced by Transfermarkt
The “incredible” attacker – as he was once lauded by former footballer Jan Åge Fjørtoft – can even line up as a number ten or as a striker if needed, much like Hall can move into the midfield ranks if necessary, with Bobb now up to a sizeable 34 goals and 37 assists for City at various age brackets.
Seven of those goal contributions have come in the senior fold under Guardiola, with an assist picked up earlier in the season against basement side Wolverhampton Wanderers, even seeing City-based content creator Stephen McInerney label him as a “magical” talent and the “perfect modern winger.”
Hall has left an indelible mark as a unique figure himself at St James’ Park, with the likes of Dan Burn filling in on the left-hand side shoved away, when the 21-year-old is at full fitness.
Bobb will feel he has what it takes to come into the Newcastle main lineup and do the same, with the Oslo-born menace perhaps what the Magpies need to get out of their late 2025 malaise.
£150k-p/w flop showed why Newcastle need to sign an upgrade in January
Newcastle United unconvincingly beat Burnley 3-1 on Tuesday night as this Magpies player put in another below-par showing.
ByKelan Sarson