After losing Alexander Isak at the start of the 2025/26 campaign, they went on to have a disappointing season in which they finished 12th in the Premier League, guaranteeing that they won't have any European football again next year.
Gordon has already left Newcastle, Tonali next?
For owners, the Saudi Public Investment Fund, whose modus operandi was to make the Tyneside giants the most successful team in the country, things can hardly be said to have gone well of late.
Indeed, being hamstrung by the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules has meant that, far from being able to buy whomever they want, as had almost certainly been the plan when they took over, they're now in a position where they need to sell players again.
Anthony Gordon, who was the club's top scorer in the Champions League during 25/26, has already departed for Barcelona, and last summer's big signing, centre-forward Nick Woltemade, already appears to have expressed a preference for wanting to leave the club.
If those two blows weren't enough, Sandro Tonali, a player whom Newcastle backed to the hilt after he was suspended for irregular betting activities, and who, when he eventually came back, played the fullest part in the Magpies' evident successes, would now seem to be the next big name wanting out of St. James' Park.
Tottenham want Italian maestro, but Tonali prefers Arsenal
According to multiple reports, the Italian has been courted by countryman Roberto De Zerbi, now in charge of Tottenham's first team, of course.
Indeed, it's understood that the North Londoners have already seen one bid turned down, though Newcastle may be more amenable to a deal if Spurs put an offer in the region of £85m on the table.
Moreover, there's been a suggestion that, in fact, Tonali himself would prefer to move to Tottenham's biggest rivals, and current Premier League champions, Arsenal.
The Gunners are known to have been interested in the player in the past, but are prioritising a move for Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, and may therefore pass up the opportunity to sign Tonali as well.
Numbers support belief that Tonali is one of Newcastle's best
Whether he ends up at either club or somewhere else entirely, it's worth pondering what Newcastle will lose should the creative midfielder be persuaded that his future lies elsewhere.
With 53 games played in all competitions, only Malick Thiaw (54) and Harvey Barnes (57) made more appearances last season, evidencing Tonali's reliability and availability.
Six assists were only topped by Bruno Guimaraes' seven, and the Italian also weighed in with three goals, which was as many as another summer striker signing, Yoane Wissa.
With Tottenham ideally needing a player that can open up the passing lanes and find attacking teammates with ease, it'll be some comfort to De Zerbi and Co. that the midfielder played the most total passes into the final third of any Newcastle player in 25/26 (795).
57 chances created were just shy of Bruno's 62, whilst a pass completion of 84.3% was up there as one of the best returns in the squad.
When one considers that his total of 2,458 passes made was bettered only by Thiaw's 2,638, it gives the perfect perspective on Tonali's excellence in this regard.
Silky skills complemented by a combative presence
Of those Newcastle players who had at least 10 successful crosses last season, his percentage of 25.93% that reached their intended target was again only marginally worse than his captain Guimaraes' total of 26.09%, who led this particular metric.
What helps Tonali to stand out from his contemporaries isn't just his silky skills and ability to drive forward with ease, either.
A 54.06% one-on-one duel success was one of the best in the Magpies squad, as was his 192 ball recoveries.
Unlike most creative, some might say luxury, players, Tonali isn't a shirker and gets stuck in, as his 68 tackles (third-best return) and the highest tackle success rate in the squad of 72.06%, showed.
That's arguably why he's so beloved by the Geordie supporters, who've taken him to their hearts, and along with Gordon, he will be another huge miss for Howe.
Unless Newcastle are already lining up like-for-like replacements, then the 2026/27 campaign is likely to be a long, hard slog for them.
The Carabao Cup final victory over Liverpool, which ended 70-odd years of drought in terms of major silverware, seems a lifetime ago already, and that really doesn't bode well for a team and a club that would've hoped to put the Premier League trophy alongside it by now.
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Jason Pettigrove has been the features writer for Flashscore since 2025, utilising Opta data to form the basis of his articles. He has previously worked for high profile football clubs, news and media outlets, both in print and digital, and can usually be found watching FC Barcelona when time permits. You can read more of his pieces here.
