Newcastle’s David Hopkinson talks Eddie Howe’s future, transfer speculation, financial figures

Newcastle’s David Hopkinson talks Eddie Howe’s future, transfer speculation, financial figures and more in an interview this week.

While Newcastle have announced a 5% increase on turnover, leading to a new record revenue, David Hopkinson has responded to questions regarding Eddie Howe and Sandro Tonali’s future as well as discussing whether the club could make a “box office” transfer.

As per Sky Sports, the Magpies reported record revenues of £335.3million for the year ending June 2025, which was up £15million from 2025, with commercial income rising 44% to £120.1million, though doesn’t include the 2025/26 Champions League revenue or the £125million made from Alexander Isak to sale to Liverpool.

CEO David Hopkinson said Howe’s future will be discussed “when the time is right” and said that a major “box office” summer signing may require a significant player sale, even though they made a £129m profit from selling St James’ Park to an associated company.

Newcastle currently find themselves sitting 12th in the Premier League with 42 points from 31 games played, and are 12 points off 4th place with 7 games left.

On about Howe’s future, Hopkinson said: “I don’t have a stance on his future. What I can tell you is that the derby loss hurt. We take it seriously. There’s nothing within us that thinks ‘well, it’s just three points and on we go’. It has resonated.

“I spent a couple of hours in a one-on-one lunch recently with Eddie [Howe] and we talked through a multitude of things, including that.

“Eddie’s our manager. I expect to have a great run to the end of the season here and we’ll talk about the future when it’s time.

“Right now, we’re focused on this season’s competition.”

On if he was leaving Howe’s future open: “I would not frame it that way. We are not looking to make a change at the moment. We are not having those conversations.

“We are still in the midst of the season. Right now we are focused on the seven matches we have remaining and not distracting ourselves with speculation about what we may or may not do in the summer.

“Right now, all of us have only got so much bandwidth and we are focused on this season and finishing strongly.”

On what the future holds for Eddie Howe: “We’ll talk about the future when it’s time.”

On Sandro Tonali: “We haven’t got an overall strategy with regard to players out, necessarily.

“We think through what players might or might not want to do this summer. But if an Isak-like scenario presents itself again, any player under contract is going to leave on our terms and we’re going to maximise the opportunity that might represent for the club.

“Going forward, our strategy is to buy well and sell well. Buying well does not necessarily mean spending the most money. It means working in the marketplace for the players that generate the most value for this club rather than the fee paid for them.

“So there are a multitude of things we need to employ, including developing our own, looking for opportunities in the marketplace and making sure we are maximising our opportunity within the available price we can produce.

“Going forward, our strategy is to buy well and sell well.

“To me, Isak was a good sale.

“If an Isak-like scenario presents itself again, any player under contract is going to leave on our terms and we’re going to maximise the opportunity,” he added.

Newcastle chief financial officer Simon Capper spoke on why Newcastle are unable to spend £129m from stadium sale, saying club would be “constrained” and “limited” in how they use that money.

“Because of the consequence of the profit calculated on the sale, it gives us a significant amount of PSR headroom,” Capper said.

“The ability to deploy that PSR headroom is very limited because we have to comply with UEFA rules and because the PSR regime is coming to an end, so that profit does not roll forward into squad cost. In a very narrow window, yes (it gives us more scope to spend on players), but we are very constrained in how we can use that.”

Sky Sports News’ Keith Downie: “I said on air last week that it looks like this summer could be one of change at Newcastle United, and nothing David Hopkinson has said in the last 24 hours has made me change that view.

“Without Champions League football it’s going to be hard to keep the prize assets at St James’ Park, with the Premier League vultures circling. Even without big name departures, Newcastle need fresh blood. As many as eight new signings could arrive, depending on departures.

“But here’s the thing. Newcastle need to sell. They admit it themselves.”

Transcribed with the help of TurboScribe!

He said via Sky Sports News: “Yeah, big news for Newcastle yesterday and I suppose it is every year for a club who are trying to catch up with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United and Manchester City, was the announcement of their financial results for the year ending June 2025.

“There was a five percent increase in turnover for Newcastle. That’s an additional 15 million, taking it from 320 million last year to 335 million.

“And also a large increase in the commercial revenue brought into the club during that period. A 44% increase in the commercial revenue, which is good, it’s positive.

“But I think if Newcastle are to be up there competing with those clubs that I mentioned a moment ago financially they need that to grow even more than that. They probably need that to grow by 144% rather than 44%.

“However, it is positive, but in all, their turnover is still dwarfed by the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, is round about half of those clubs, meaning it’s difficult to compete with them both on the pitch and also off the pitch when it comes to transfers as well.

“And there was some interesting news regarding the stadium. Behind me St James’ Park, which you can see in all its glory.

“A note within those financial accounts that the stadium was actually sold back in the summer by Newcastle to a subsidiary company owned by the club and then leased back to Newcastle United for the next 50 years.

“Of course, that’s a financial decision. Had that taken place maybe two, three years ago, it could have helped Newcastle in a PSR world when it comes to buying and selling players.

“But because the rules change later this year, it means it’s difficult for Newcastle to get any help in a financial situation. So a question mark over the timing of that.

“But Newcastle made that decision for their own financial reasons. And just an interesting note within those financial figures that came out yesterday.

“So all in all, positive news, for Newcastle, but probably not positive enough if they want to be up there challenging with the top clubs.

“But also worth noting as well that these figures do not include the Champions League prize money that will fall into next year’s accounts.

“Of course, Newcastle on that European journey this year that ended with the defeat to Barcelona, the prize money from that will show up in next year’s accounts and not the ones that I’m talking about today.”

Here’s how fans reacted as Newcastle’s David Hopkinson talks Eddie Howe’s future, transfer speculation, and financial figures…

@TudorPacket: I’d like to see far more scrutiny on the ownership. They’ve squandered almost five years of Howe’s hard work moving the club forward & it was never sustainable given PSR rules. Given the wealth, they’ve done nothing to move the needle on PSR. Changing managers gets you nowhere

@NUFC_Oscar86_: No Europe and he’s likely gone. #nufc

@PaulGallantNUFC: Our owners being ruthless, love to see it and it’s well needed

@BridgesLeo123: If every manager is under PSR/SCR constraints where each summer we are forced to sell our best players, what is the actual point? What manager is able to do more than Howe with less? Bedwetters will get their wish and we’ll be in exactly the same position in 2 years if not sorted

@danjpeg: Journo’s running with the BOMBSHELL headlines but the quotes from the CEO are bang on. Eddie has to improve in performances/results in the last 7 games playing 1 game a week, almost fully fit squad. Big players will go & trading will happen. Quite excited to see the refresh #NUFC

@NUFCThreatLevel: I think it’s an open and honest assessment of where we stand. People call for clarity and I suppose if that’s what we’re getting we’ll hear both good and bad, whether it be tackling the rules designed to financially reign clubs in or the manager himself.. Just how it is. #NUFC

@21Milner: Yeah I haven’t seen many disagree. I feel it’s no European football then he’s gone

@dan_jr1987: So #nufc are bang in trouble this summer? No Europe means we sell our best players? Last year they were adamant no Isak sale, then sell him, but now sounds like every player is up for sale. Does this kill any ambition we had going forward? Interesting Howe is under pressure.

@JamesHunt07: Eddie and how David are essentially confirming Sandro IS for sale but at the right price. I’m more happy that we’re not making the same mistake we did with Isak. This is basically a come and get him if you want, but there is a price #NUFC