Newcastle fight to keep manager Howe

Newcastle called an emergency meeting on Wednesday to work out a strategy to keep their coach Eddie Howe. The Football Association accepted England boss Gareth Southgate’s resignation after losing the Euro 24 final and Howe was immediately installed as the favourite to take over the national team.

Other coaches already under consideration are ex-Chelsea boss Graham Potter and from overseas Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino and Jurgen Klopp.

Southgate earned £3m a year which is far below the pay of a Premier League coach and Howe is already earning a basic £ 4 million. If Newcastle finish in the top four this coming season he will be paid a bonus of £1m.

The FA are not in a hurry to appoint Southgate’s successor and the England Under-21 coach Lee Carsley may be given the job until a final decision is made. Carsley won the European Under-21 title in 2023.

Newcastle have already started preparing their defence and pointed out that Howe is on a long-term contract.

However, with his main “protectors” Amanda Stavely and her husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi having left the club, the Saudi owners Public Investment Fund are already demanding Champions League qualification for 2026 and if Howe doesn’t start the new season he will be under immediate pressure.

Ten Hag and Sancho meet to make up

The long-running argument between United boss Erik Ten Hag and Jadon Sancho has been well documented. At last the pair have met up and discussed repairing their relationship.

It is unknown if Sancho has actually apologised for calling Ten Hag a liar when the coach criticised his training efforts but Sancho is scheduled to go on United’s pre-season tour.

Ten Hag became very annoyed at the end of last season every time journalists questioned him about the situation and refused to refer to Jadon by name until the winger joined Borussia Dortmund on loan where he put in some excellent performances.

Ten Hag is scheduled to give a press conference at California’s UCLA during the club’s pre-season tour and will almost certainly face questions relating to the situation. Sancho may be sold before the season even begins.

If that does not happen, he could line-up against Fulham in United’s opening match of the season. I can only imagine what the United and Fulham crowds will chant and sing.

Gray impresses Postecoglou

We had first sight of Archie Gray as a Tottenham player at the weekend. The 18-year-old featured in friendly matches against lower league club Cambridge United Scottish first division club Hearts.

Coach Ange Postecoglou was impressed with his quality of work. I am told Gray will be involved in Tottenham’s game against QPR and then depart on the club tour to Japan and Son Heung-Min’s native South Korea.

During the tour, Tottenham will play Bayern Munich before kicking off the season against promoted Leicester City on August 19.

Rosenborg expose United’s fitness levels

Pre-season has not started well for Manchester United and Erik Ten Hag. The coach criticised his players after losing their first pre-season friendly 0-1 to Norwegian side Rosenborg.

Ten Hag said: “In top football, we have much higher standards and as an individual, you must make sure you are fit. I know you cannot be match fit at the moment so we need these games to get there but I do not expect to lose.”

Unfortunately for Ten Hag, new CEO Omar Berrada was watching from the stands along with sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox. Despite being kept on as coach, the spotlight is very much on Ten Hag.

Also involved were new coaches Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Haka. To be fair, Ten Hag did pick some of his youth options... who played alongside Jonny Evans, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Mason mount, Casermiro and Marcus Rashford.

With Rasmus Hojlund away, new signing Joshua Zirkee and 18-year-old Ethan Wheatley spearheaded United’s attack but both were given few chances to impress.

To be fair, Rosenborg are midway through their season in the Norwegian Eliteserien League and it was obvious their levels of fitness and sharpness were superior to United’s.

Is the role of a No9 changing?

Many people criticised Harry Kane for his lack of performance in the Euros but I think this can be explained.

Like many of my football journalists witnessed I noticed the demise of the Number 9 role. Some of the best strikers in the world were almost redundant. Alvaro Morata and Harry Kane were often left in isolation in the final and both were eventually replaced.

Kylian Mbappe, Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski — among the world’s best — were often almost spectators. The reason for this is simple, wingers and attacking fullbacks progressed on both sides of the pitch and then passed back to allow midfielders to come through the centre to mount an attack on goal.

In the final Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Marc Cucurella and Danni Carvajal all succeeded because of a system which used the wings instead of going through midfield and passing to the strikers.

I wonder how many coaches will adopt this style of play.

Half the City squad given extra holidays

Manchester City have given their Euro stars an extra three weeks holiday.

Kevin de Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Jeremy Doku, Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, John Stones, Rodri, Kyle Walker and Copa America winner Julian Alvarez were not present at pre-season early training which started last Monday.

Grealish doesn’t want to be out of City’s revolving door

England are still recovering from failing to win Euro 24 but for the domestic players it was business as usual. Manchester City saw a smaller group than usual returning for pre-season training.

All eyes are on Jack Grealish, who was left out of the England squad and has been working hard with his personal trainer in Portugal. City insiders are expecting Jack to make up for lost time and he will be a big part of pre-season training. Pep Guardiola is planning to work closely and one-on-one with his winger, which is an opportunity Grealish cannot afford to waste.

After spending two years at Sheffield United, James McAtee is being given a chance to restore his career at City in pre-season training. After scoring against Bayern Munich

in Tokyo last summer, City wanted him to stay but he elected to play regularly thus the move to Sheffield. His plan is to copy the progress of Oscar Bobb, impress in pre-season training and become a regular from the bench.

Ederson missed the final two games of last season after breaking his eye socket. He has been approached by Saudi Arabian clubs but Guardiola is working behind the scenes to keep his two main goalkeepers.

Stefan Ortega has signed a new contract but Guardiola has made it clear that he is No.2, behind Ederson. City are well covered but we cannot tell at the moment whether Ederson stays or leaves.

Kalvin Phillips is at a crossroads in his career. After City made him available, he went out on loan but was unsuccessful at West Ham. He will probably go on the pre-season tour because he is under contract.

However, City are still looking for buyers and despite several clubs showing interest, there have been no firm offers. The same goes for Joao Cancelo, who is away on holiday after playing for Portugal in the Euros.

Onana making the move from Everton to Villa

I have waited all week for Aston Villa to announce the arrival of Amadou Onana from Everton. The Belgian has agreed a deal for about £50million. He will join other incoming

players, Ross Barkley and Enzo Barrenechea, which considerably strengthens the midfield despite the sale of Douglas Luiz — who has joined Juventus for £42million.

Onana was brought by Frank Lampard. However, the team dynamics have changed under Sean Dyche. Everton are playing more direct football and competing for less possession, which often bypasses the midfield so they are not caught moving forward — which happened under Lampard.

Onana simply did not fit into Dyche’s style of play which was emphasised by his omission from key games, especially in April, when the Toffees won three games without him.

Coutinho returns to Brazil

Former Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho has returned to Brazil, signing for Vasco da Gama. Aston Villa have returned him to his homeland for a loan period.

Coutinho left the Premier League for Barcelona but failed to hold down a place in the team and moved to Al-Duhail in Qatar. Injuries ruined his time in Spain but he joined Bayern Munich and performed well, winning a Champions League medal before leaving for Villa.

His former teammate at Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold, sent him a text wishing him well: “Hi Phil, Trent here…I just wanted to say all the best and good luck with your new journey and challenge. I know you’ll smash it, all the best my friend.”

Transfer news…

Manchester United appear to have beaten Real Madrid and Liverpool by agreeing to sign Lille defender Leby Yoro for £52m. The 18-year-old is rated as one of the best centre-back prospects in Europe. As I write this, he is expected in Manchester for a medical and to finalise details.

Arsenal’s £30m rated midfielder Emile Smith Rowe has received offers from Fulham and Crystal Palace, which the Gunners have turned down.

The 23-year-old wants to play regularly but groin and knee injuries curtailed his progress, eventually falling out of favour with Mikel Arteta. I am told Fulham intend to raise their offer. The 2021 season saw Emile win an England cap.

He scored ten goals and had two assists for Arsenal. The Gunners are determined to offload Arteta’s fringe players.

Crystal Palace have contacted Arsenal about Eddie Nketiah.

Arsenal started their summer clear-out of unwanted players on Tuesday with Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares joining Sevilla and Lazio on loan respectively. Aaron Ramsdale, Kieran Tieney, Thomas Partey and Reiss Nelson are also heading for the exit door.

Leeds are resolved to losing several top players given their failure to gain promotion to the Premier League.

Newcastle are heading the queue for Wilfried Gnonto, who can play on either wing and would be a perfect replacement if Miguel Almiron leaves for the Saudi Pro League.

Everton are also interested if Gnonto is available for around £25 million.

Former Arsenal and Liverpool star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been told he can leave Besiktas this summer despite two years left on his contract.

He has not been included in the Turkish club’s pre-season training camp in Slovenia. Alex’s agents are contacting several Premier League clubs and Southampton are interested.

Nottingham Forest and Wolves are fighting for the signature of Che Adams, who is available on a free transfer after his contract expired on July 1st.

Southampton did not want to lose the 33-cap Scotland star after winning promotion to the Premier League. The 27-year-old could pave the way for West Ham's Danny Ings.

Dutchman Crysencio Summerville is returning to the Premier League following Leeds failure to win promotion from the Championship.

The £40million-rated winger is of interest to Newcastle, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace. Palace are in a good place to bid following Michael Olise’s transfer to Bayern Munich for £ 50 million.

Chelsea continue to head the transfer market having completed a staggering 11 deals. They are not all incoming. Academy star Michael Golding has moved to Leicester’s King Power stadium.

Golding made his debut under Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea have banked £ 5 million. Omari Hutchinson, Ian Maatsen, Lewis Hall, Hakim Zyech and Thiago Silva have already left.