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Newcastle United are set to begin a new chapter in 2026/27 after Eddie Howe chose to step down as manager this summer.

The Magpies fell short of expectations last season, winning only 14 of their 38 matches and ending up 12th in the Premier League table.

Former Red Bull Salzburg and Al-Ahli boss Matthias Jaissle has been given the responsibility of turning the club's fortunes around this term.

Here is our assessment of whether Newcastle can put together a successful Premier League campaign.

IN: Aladji Bamba (Monaco, £30m), Amar Dedic (Benfica, £29.5m), Lukas Hornicek (Braga, £25.7m), Sean Steur (Ajax, £20m), Ewen Jaouen (Reims, £18.5m), Bazoumana Toure (Hoffenheim, undisclosed), Afner Ca (Levante, free).

OUT: Sandro Tonali (Tottenham Hotspur, £92.5m), Bruno Guimaraes (Arsenal, £75m), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona, £69.3m), Kieran Trippier (Wolverhampton Wanderers, free), Emil Krafth (released), John Ruddy (released), Max Thompson (released), Matt Targett (released), Aaron Ramsdale (Southampton, end of loan), Travis Hernes (Groningen, undisclosed), Odyssead Vlachodimos (Sevilla, loan), Antonio Cordero (Cadiz, loan), Joe White (Crewe Alexandra, undisclosed), Alex Murphy (Kaiserslautern, loan), Harrison Ashby (Luton Town, loan), Anthony Munda (Swindon Town, loan).

(Information correct on August 18).

Newcastle supporters have every right to be worried as they head into what looks certain to be a challenging Premier League season.

The departure of several influential players has removed a great deal of experience from the squad, while bringing in unproven talent is clearly a sizeable risk.

Jaissle has arrived in the Premier League after managing for only a little more than 100 games in the Austrian Bundesliga, followed by three years in the Saudi Pro League.

There is nothing on his CV to indicate that he can definitely handle a club which sees itself as one of the biggest in English football.

The Magpies have appeared badly lacking in cohesion during pre-season, but the new manager is convinced he can shape a side that will thrill the fans.

"Front-footed, intense, aggressive and, of course, successful," Jaissle said when asked about his aims for Newcastle.

"The approach we have as a coaching team, and the identity Newcastle is famous for, are so closely connected, which is a perfect fit in my eyes. And that's going to be exciting."

"We want to develop and improve in a short amount of time. We want to use every minute of every day. It's a big challenge when there's a transitional period, but it's not time to complain.

"It doesn't make sense to see the negative things."

The 38-year-old is understandably eager to concentrate on the positives, but Newcastle show all the signs of a club moving in the wrong direction.

Putting an untested manager in charge of a squad packed with unproven players could prove disastrous.

Newcastle have not only lost three of their most important footballers, but have also continued a pattern of missing out on their main transfer targets in the market.

Any suggestion that the Magpies can climb back into the top half of the table appears highly unrealistic unless the club addresses some of the obvious gaps in the squad.

It may sound hard to imagine that Newcastle could be dragged into a relegation battle, but a finish in the bottom six cannot be ruled out.

Read more: Premier League 2026/27 season preview.