Barcelona's buy-back clause with Sporting for 25-year-old Portugal winger Francisco Trincao - who has been linked with Newcastle, Arsenal and Manchester United - ended in June 2024. (Record - in Portuguese), external
Which player needs to do more in the closing stages of season?published at 16:32 25 March
16:32 25 March
Charlotte Robson Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
When it comes to a player who needs to do more as we head into the final few weeks of the season, the truth of the situation is that all of our players have worked really hard this campaign.
When we have lost, we have lost as a collective. It has not been because one player is dragging us down.
But... There are around 10 more games to go, and we would like to secure Champions League football thus retaining our best players for another season, so perhaps I am allowed to reframe the question as - who would I like to see continue to be really great for us this season?
I am going to pick Anthony Gordon, because this season for him has been a little more up and down than his previous campaign-and-a-half. He was instrumental in getting us to the Champions League last time, and I would like him to be instrumental in getting us there this time.
Admittedly, he cannot play in one of the games because of the red card he picked up against Brighton, but all the more reason for him to give it his all for the remainder of the season, right?
Do not get me wrong - he has been brilliant for the most part this term, and when he got the red card many of us were convinced that we had no chance against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, such is his influence on the pitch when he is having a good day.
I would love to be able to finish the season as we did in 2022-23, singing his name and getting excited about Champions League football.
'Maybe the most heart-warming story in English football this season'published at 14:25 25 March
14:25 25 March
Pat Nevin Former footballer and presenter
Image source, Getty Images
The fans might expect blood, sweat and tears every time a player adorns the Three Lions shirt but in truth they have to manage their situations. Another two cruise-controlled performances at Wembley, with players not wanting to risk injury, was always going to be very likely.
It is different for some players and while a random single England cap might mean less to someone like Jude Bellingham in years to come, for Dan Burn it was nothing short of a dream. It is rare in the modern era for such an unorthodox player, so late in developing and so generally loved to get this fabulous moment at Wembley.
This wasn't a sympathy cap either, he absolutely deserved that first call up against Albania at the age of 32. When you add the cup final for Newcastle, his local hero, and iconic-in-an-instant goal, it may well be the best, most heart-warming story in the whole of English football this season. It makes you believe that this corporate controlled, money driven game actually might have a soul after all.
'Great idea' or 'a complete shambles?' Fans on celebration planspublished at 11:17 25 March
11:17 25 March
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on Newcastle's Carabao Cup celebration plans following the news that the club have now organised for an open-top bus parade to take place before Saturday's open-air event.
Here are some of your comments:
Joe: Great idea for the event but far too long. We don't need to see the game again. (We might lose lol).
The bus route is far too short. It should be down St James Boulevard, around Central Station, back along Boulevard onto Gallowgate, along Percy Street through Haymarket and along to Town Moor.
Chris: Pleased to hear there will now be an open top celebration. The feedback on social media about the ticketed event has been very negative and felt like the club were trying to limit the fans' ability to show their appreciation and somehow profit from the experience. At least all fans now get the chance to show their support.
Lesley: Why limit how many can enjoy this? This is literally what people have been waiting for a lifetime to come around. A parade is what was expected and needed. How many people applied for the 100,000 free tickets? I bet it was over 250,000. A complete shambles.
Gossip: Barca want Tonali and Isakpublished at 06:51 25 March
Newcastle confirm Carabao Cup bus paradepublished at 19:01 24 March
19:01 24 March
Image source, Getty Images
Newcastle have announced that an open-top bus parade will take place before Saturday's open-air event to celebrate the side's Carabao Cup triumph.
The bus route - which will be confirmed on Tuesday - will be open to the public, with the event on the Town Moor ticketed.
It was announced on Friday that the free-to-attend celebration event will feature a DJ, a live band, highlights of the Magpies' run to Wembley, a screening of the cup final victory over Liverpool and special guests, before the team lift the Carabao Cup on stage.
Gossip: Isak favours Liverpool movepublished at 07:23 24 March
07:23 24 March
Newcastle striker Alexander Isak is open to a move to Barcelona but would prefer to join Liverpool if they make a move for the 25-year-old Sweden international this summer. (El Nacional - in Spanish, external)
Newcastle announce cup celebration planspublished at 13:25 21 March
13:25 21 March
Image source, Getty Images
Newcastle United have announced plans to celebrate their Carabao Cup win with supporters at an open-air event.
The free-to-attend celebration will take place on Saturday, 29 March and will be set around a large main stage on the Town Moor, adjacent to the Great North Road.
Fans will see manager Eddie Howe and the first-team players with the cup for the first time since the Wembley victory that secured their first domestic trophy for 70 years.
The club says the event will feature a DJ, live band, highlights of their run to Wembley, a screening of the full cup final and special guests, before the team lift the Carabao Cup on stage.
Burn or Murphy for Ballon d'Or?published at 12:15 21 March
12:15 21 March
Image source, Getty Images
It shows how special a week Newcastle have had by the fact we asked columnist Fara Williams who should win the Ballon d'Or - given the only two obvious candidates are Dan Burn and Jacob Murphy.
In [almost] complete sincerity, she answered:
Probably Jacob Murphy because most people who win the Ballon d'Or are more attack-minded players so he would probably be favoured more by the people voting.
They both have had really good seasons.
Dan Burn's story and where he's come from is so inspiring. In the nicest possible way it shows that talent isn't everything and hard work, grit, and determination to achieve something is key.
His journey has been amazing and his last week - to get a first international call-up at 32 and score in a Carabao Cup final - is amazing.
I'd give the Ballon d'Or to Burn but I think Murphy would be voted for as an attacker as that is how it works.
Murphy has had such a good season. Fans were calling for him to go and saying he wasn't good enough a few years ago and he fought back, went on a great run in the team, and now is a key component, even if Burn pips him to my Ballon d'Or award.
Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward
Pope 'definitely better' than three of Tuchel's England pickspublished at 10:17 21 March
10:17 21 March
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Former Newcastle defender John Anderson still believes Nick Pope is better than England's current goalkeepers Aaron Ramsdale, Dean Henderson and James Trafford.
Pope, who has 10 international caps, was not one of the four keepers included in Thomas Tuchel's squad for March's 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.
Henderson, Trafford and Ramsdale were called up along with Jordan Pickford.
"Pickford is obviously England's number one and rightly so, but I would say Nick Pope is definitely better than the rest of them," said Anderson on BBC Radio Newcastle.
Trafford, who has been linked with a move to Newcastle on multiple occasions, has kept 27 clean sheets in 38 matches for Championship outfit Burnley.
"He is up and coming and has had an exceptional season with Burnley," said Anderson on the possibility of signing the 22-year-old this summer.
From third to 10th - pundit predictspublished at 09:19 21 March
09:19 21 March
With the Premier League top two fairly set in stone and the relegation places all but decided, we asked former England midfielder Fara Williams to pick her final table from third down to 10th.
Nottingham Forest will hang on to third based on what they have built this season in terms of being defensively hard to break down and playing in transitions very well. They are finding ways to win games by playing to their strengths.
I do not think Chelsea are good enough to secure fourth. I have put Manchester City there because they have enough firepower and always seem to finish Premier League seasons really well. They have not been in good form but they have that know-how and still a bit of a fear factor against some of the teams they play.
I have Chelsea in fifth because if Cole Palmer can refind his form they will have a good run of games. Newcastle in sixth - where they currently sit - as I think they will continue on the same trajectory with their run of fixtures.
The rest is really difficult. I have put Bournemouth seventh as their pressing and high-intensity play will see them pick up form again and rise a few places.
I have Aston Villa eighth as their focus will be on the Champions League, then Brighton ninth and Fulham 10th as I do not think their form will improve significantly. They are still impressive finishes.
Having said this, it has never been so close in this area of the table from what I can remember. These teams are likely to finish within one win of each other so much can change on one result.
Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward
Gossip: Magpies want Huijsenpublished at 07:51 21 March
07:51 21 March
Newcastle have made Bournemouth and Spain international Dean Huijsen, 19, their number one defensive target this summer. (Sun), external
'My first thought was to my dad'published at 15:10 20 March
15:10 20 March
Media caption,
Anth Young from the Total Sport Newcastle United podcast says his first thought was for his dad when the Magpies won the Carabao Cup at Wembley.
He said: "My first thought was to my dad and how he followed this team home and away. I would have loved to give him a kiss and a cuddle and say 'this is what we've done dad'.
"We are such a big city with one club. You grow up supporting Newcastle - you have nothing else. My dad couldn't afford to take me to games so he took me to reserve games.
"I thought of all of that in that moment. It was a lot to take in and I'm not ashamed to say I absolutely cried when that full-time whistle went."
'Go and buy the chisel now' - Nevinpublished at 09:11 19 March
09:11 19 March
Pat Nevin Former footballer and presenter
Image source, Getty Images
Unless you support a particular team involved, there are some cup finals that can soon be forgotten. The Carabao Cup final at the weekend will not be one of those.
This was instant history that will endure. There was folklore being written and magic being created in front of our eyes.
I wrote in my newsletter last week that this would be the most important week in Newcastle's history for many decades. A win in the league, which was delivered on Monday at West Ham and the defeat of Liverpool at Wembley could lead to a statue of Eddie Howe outside St James' Park one day.
The story was special because of those long years when they had waited and suffered in that football-mad town. There was also the fact that they were huge underdogs against Liverpool and of course there was the local hero Dan Burn scoring an unforgettable header. This will forever be the iconic moment, even though it was not the winner. All this helped crystallise this into a unique occasion.
In reality, it was something else less tangible that made this extra special. It is the Newcastle supporters past and present and how they follow their team. That Geordie army stayed passionate and dedicated to the club after all those years of desperate, unrequited longing for a trophy.
Even when they heartbreakingly lost finals over the years, the fans stayed post-match to cheer the team on and share their sorrow. If you had a look at the other end of Wembley, seconds after the final whistle, the red sea had departed already. The vast majority of supporters for other 'big' teams supporters would have done the same. Newcastle fans are different.
The club may have new wealthy Middle Eastern owners but the celebrations in the wider football world have been for Newcastle United's true 'owners', the fans who have followed them and who represent the best of what supporting a football club should be.
Burn to the World Cup - why not? published at 08:22 19 March
08:22 19 March
Image source, Getty Images
Former Newcastle defender Steve Howey spoke to BBC Radio Newcastle about the prospect of Dan Burn making England's 2026 World Cup squad:
"He's got every chance. If he gets his opportunity and does well, and I'm sure he will, how many times do we see players get picked when their club form hasn't been the best?
I'm not saying that it hasn't been good [for Newcastle], but managers tend to pick players who do well for England.
"If he can be consistent for England, which he certainly has been for Newcastle, then why not? Yes he's going to be 34, but why not?"
Gossip: Magpies line up huge pay rise for Isakpublished at 07:30 19 March
07:30 19 March
Newcastle United are readying a new contract offer which would mean Sweden striker Alexander Isak, 25, nearly doubling his salary. (GiveMeSport), external
