'They have got to...' - talkSPORT man details 'big' changes needed at Newcastle this summer

Former Premier League striker Kevin Campbell has predicted a mass squad overhaul at Newcastle United in the upcoming summer transfer window. 

Following the completion of the protracted takeover in 2021, newly-appointed Toon manager Eddie Howe was able to sign Bruno Guimaraes, Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier, Matt Targett and Chris Wood during the January transfer window.

Those arrivals meant that previously regular first-teamers Jamal Lewis, Ciaran Clark and Isaac Hayden were all left out of the Premier League squad for the second half of the 2021/22 campaign.

Since then, the Magpies have moved clear of the threat of relegation and can already begin planning for life in the top flight next term, as Howe himself predicted that ‘difficult decisions’ regarding the squad lie ahead.

Those plans could well include a mass exodus, according to one onlooker…

Speaking to Football Insider, Campbell – who works for talkSPORT as a pundit – has suggested that Howe will oversee plenty of changes to his Newcastle squad this summer.

The 52-year-old former Arsenal striker explained: “They have got to clear the decks. They might have to play some players off. That is the other thing that has to be considered.

“We saw Arsenal do it in order to create room in their squad for new signings. Players are on such good contracts now. Clubs have to pay players off in some cases.

“Newcastle will have a plan of what they want to do. I’m sure they have a deep budget. Adding quality to that squad is the order of the day. I don’t think it matters what department. They will be big, big movers and shakers this summer.”

Following on from the euphoria of the eagerly anticipated takeover, the Newcastle faithful will have been delighted with the upturn in fortunes