Newcastle United

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Newcastle United have signed Lewis Hall on a permanent contract following the defender's successful loan spell last season.

The left-back made 22 appearances for Eddie Howe's side throughout the 2023-24 campaign, scoring two goals.

After signing his long-term deal, the Chelsea academy graduate and boyhood Magpies supporter said: "When you pull on the black and white shirt, there is no feeling like it - and playing in front of the best supporters in the country is extra special for me, being a Toon fan.

"I gained a lot of experience last season and, with the squad we have, we will be looking to push on even further this season. I can't wait to get started."

Howe added: "Lewis was a very good addition to our squad last season - we have been delighted with his progress and his contribution to the team.

"As well as being a talented player, he has a great attitude towards the game and his own development. I'm excited for this next part of his journey."

Meanwhile, the Magpies have also signed 37-year-old goalkeeper John Ruddy following his contract expiration at Birmingham City.

Ruddy, who joins on a one-year deal, said: "It was an opportunity I couldn't turn down.

"It is a huge club which is only going one way and to be a part of that, however big or small, is going to be very pleasing and very exciting."

Howe added: "He has a huge amount of experience and adds a level of support and competition that we need."

The announcement follows the arrival of goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos from Nottingham Forest earlier on Monday.

How do you feel about Newcastle's transfer activity over the past few days, Magpies fans?

Let us know your thoughts here, external

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The summer outgoings at Newcastle United have started as Elliot Anderson, who has been at the club since he was eight, signs for Nottingham Forest.

Newcastle's proposal of letting Anthony Gordon join Liverpool in a deal which included acquiring Jarell Quansah has been rejected by the Reds.

Do you think Anderson's departure is a good bit of business for the club and player? And are you open to last season's stand-out performer, Gordon, also moving on for the right price?

Let us know your thoughts here, external

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has made it clear to the club's board that they should not be looking to cash in on 24-year-old Sweden striker Alexander Isak this summer, amid interest from Chelsea. (Fabrizio Romano via Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Newcastle's Anthony Gordon is putting aside club friendships as England come up against Martin Dubravka's Slovakia on Sunday.

The Magpies team-mates could come face to face when their two nations meet in the last 16 of Euro 2024 in Germany.

Goalkeeper Dubravka has featured in all three of Slovakia's games so far, while Gordon had his first and only minutes in the Three Lions' draw with Slovenia.

Speaking at a pre-match news conference, the winger said: "Dubravka is a top guy. I've played with him for a year and a half now and he has been really important for Newcastle.

"A top guy and a top goalkeeper. I hope he loses in the game, but Slovakia are very organised and have threats on the counter, direct players and experienced players.

"It will be a very difficult game and we're preparing for that."

Dubravka, who is Newcastle's second-choice goalkeeper, became a key figure for the side last season when he had to step in for the injured Nick Pope - featuring 30 times.

Asked whether they spoke before heading off to the tournament about playing for their countries, Gordon said: "No, we didn't speak too much.

"We spoke about the tournament in general and excitement of it, but not too much about the individual teams."

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Newcastle's Anthony Gordon says he knows he is a "nightmare" to play against.

The 23-year-old winger was brought on as a late substitute in England's final group game against Slovenia on Tuesday - his first taste of major tournament football.

Gordon was able to impact play when he came on, providing width and pace to the left side of the Three Lions' attack, but afterwards said he was "frustrated" with his lack of involvement so far in Germany.

"My strengths are I'm direct, I'm quick," he said.

"I'm a nightmare for anyone I play against. I'm positive when I get the ball. I'm always trying to make something happen.

"I'm not a very safe player, I'm always going for it and I'm always trying to put people on the back foot. With the other players we have, I think I add a different element to the team.

"If and when I'm called upon, I will be ready."

After lacklustre displays from Gareth Southgate's side so far, many fans and pundits have been calling for the former Everton player to start Sunday's last-16 tie against Slovakia.

"It brings a lot of unpredictably [how I play]. I win a lot of fouls and it can put teams on the back foot and that is just the way I play football," added Gordon.

"That works for me and that is the way I feel best playing. I know how hard I am to play against. I can feel it. I know people don't like playing against me so it has worked for me and I'm going to carry on doing it."

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Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon on that accident during a bike ride with the England team:

"I was going down the hill and tried to take a picture for my family and before I knew it I was face first into the floor. It's only few cuts, it’s not anything painful.

"The front brake is on the left-hand side and I tried to press the right one to slow down - and it didn’t slow down, it came to a full stop. I’ve gone 10 feet in the air, chin first.

"I just carried on and finished the bike ride. When I got back to camp, I had to put stuff on it, which absolutely stung. To be fair, no-one saw me thankfully."

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Newcastle United have confirmed they will travel to Championship side Hull City for a pre-season friendly.

The game against the Tigers, who finished seventh in the second tier last season, will take place on Saturday, 27 July at 14:00 BST.

Following that match, the Magpies will travel to Japan to participate in the J League International Series 2024 where they will take on Urawa Red Diamonds and Yokohama Marinos.

Those fixtures will take place on 31 July and 3 August respectively as Eddie Howe and his team continue their preparations for the new Premier League season.

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Managers will always outwardly support their players on the international stage, but you can be sure one or two will privately be hoping for an early exit from Euro 2024 for a few of their star men.

International tournament summers disrupt pre-season for managers.

Various players from different nations return to their clubs at different times, sometimes with injuries, holidays get postponed and rescheduled. As a general rule, the best players are more likely to play for the best nations and therefore go further in international tournaments.

The Euro 2024 final will take place on 14 July. Over half of Premier League clubs already have a pre-season fixture scheduled within 10 days of that.

Of English clubs, unsurprisingly, Premier League champions Manchester City have comfortably the most players in the Euro 2024 knockouts. The best represented Premier League side at the start of the competition have a full line-up of 11 stars still in Germany.

They are followed by the rest of last season's top three - Arsenal and Liverpool - who have eight and seven respectively. Manchester United also have seven while Brentford - aided by their healthy Danish contingent - have six and Crystal Palace five.

Championship play-off winners Southampton's three representatives were all eliminated at the group stage, while fellow newly promoted side Ipswich have not seen their summer impacted at all by players at Euro 2024.

Of the Championship-winning Leicester squad, goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and defenders Wout Faes and Jannik Vestergaard remain in Germany - as does Turkey's Yunus Akgun, who spent last season on loan with the Foxes.

This data was provided by Opta and counts the clubs where players finished at the end of the 2023-24 season.

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Before England's Euro 2024 last-16 tie against Slovakia on Sunday, the BBC's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering readers' questions on all things Three Lions.

Mike asked: Do you see the previously benched players who made an impact in the last game (Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon) starting against Slovakia? Or do you feel their positive impact was as a result of the time they came on?

Phil answered: I can see at least two [of Mainoo, Palmer and Gordon], or possibly all three, starting against Slovakia. Mainoo gave the team some urgency against Slovenia, while Palmer looked confident and creative when he came on as a substitute in the second half. Gordon only a got a couple of minutes - but he has a chance because England look unbalanced on the left flank, which is his natural position.

Read Phil's other responses and the rest of Friday's football news

Newcastle United have been told by AC Milan that only a fee of about £40m will be enough to sign their England defender Fikayo Tomori. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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We asked for your views on which Euros player would be a good fit for Newcastle United.

Here are a few of your suggestions:

Jack: Giorgi Mamardashvili, if we are seriously looking for a new long-term number one goalkeeper. He looks great value at the £35m Valencia apparently want, although I would imagine that will be higher given how well he's played in the Euros so far.

Ben: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. I just saw the guy make a mockery out of the Portugal national side. A statement wide forward would be a key signing for us, so why not?

Joe: If money were no object, and the player would come, my top pick would have to be Spain's Nico Williams to fill the right-wing slot.

Harry: Nico Williams from Spain. He is exactly the sort of creative winger we need on the opposite flank to Anthony Gordon. He has got magic feet to beat his man and he has got a quality pass and shot on either foot. Benjamin Sesko is also a good shout, especially with the injury issues we have had with our strikers. He is big, strong, quick and clinical.

Krish: If Guimaraes does end up being sold, Fabian Ruiz should be his replacement. He has been great for Spain and he is generally quite a good rounded player like Guimaraes.

David: Marc Guehi for me. I think he would be a great addition to our defence.

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Anthony Gordon has been pictured this morning with a graze on his chin, nose and with some red marks on his hands and wrists.

We've been told that he fell off of a bike yesterday at the England camp.

We've seen pictures of the team riding bikes around their base on recovery days and it looks like Gordon has taken a fall.

All is good though and the Newcastle forward is in full training.

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Former England captain Wayne Rooney feels there are "so many imbalances" in the Three Lions team, with the left side being an "issue".

Given Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw is still not fit, Newcastle United's Kieran Trippier has been deputising on that side of defence.

Without a naturally left-footed player in that position and Manchester City's Phil Foden being played on that side of midfield, England have struggled to generate width or create chances from the left.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, ex-striker Rooney said: "At the minute, it's Tripper or [Joe] Gomez, for me, who should play there. I was very surprised and really shocked that Ben Chilwell didn't get picked - just for the balance of having a left-footed player there.

"He plays at Chelsea and has played well for England in the past. He's a good left-back - he's been in tournaments as well - so I was really surprised he wasn't selected."

Gomez, who has yet to feature this tournament, regularly covered for Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson when he was injured last season.

"So do you play Tripper or Gomez there? Do you bring Kyle Walker across?" Rooney continued. "Over the past few years, Kyle has been the best right-back in the world. Do you take that away from him and put him at left-back? There's so many imbalances about the team.

"Should Foden play on the left, on the right, or as a 10? There are so many questions."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Chelsea have enquired about Newcastle United's Alexander Isak but they would have to pay more than £115m to sign the 24-year-old Sweden striker. (Mail), external

Newcastle are reluctant to see Isak leave and would rather sell Callum Wilson, with teams from England, Germany and Saudi Arabia interested in the 33-year-old England striker. (Teamtalk), external

Meanwhile, Newcastle forward Yankuba Minteh has rejected a move to Lyon despite the French club agreeing a £40m fee for the 19-year-old Gambia international. (Sun), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

As the Euros group stage comes to a close, how's your scouting report gone?

Who has caught your eye as a perfect signing for Newcastle?

And how would they fit into Eddie Howes's starting XI?

Give us your suggestions here, external

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Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon says the lack of game time for England at Euro 2024 is "frustrating".

The 23-year-old came on in the 90th minute of the Three Lions' final group game against Slovenia on Tuesday night.

It was his first minutes for the side in Germany and his debut at a major tournament.

With Phil Foden struggling to make an impact in his unnatural position on the left-hand side of midfield for the first two games, many pundits and fans had been calling for Gordon to come into the team.

When he came on against the tight defence of the Slovenian side, he showed his pace and link-up play with other substitutes Kobbie Mainoo and Cole Palmer.

"I won't lie to you - it is frustrating because I want to play," he said after the match, external. "I think every player here does and it is difficult because we have so many good players.

"Watching from the sideline, any game at any level is hard. You just want to come on the pitch because you feel you can make an impact.

"I felt like I did when I came on. I tried to get at people, be direct and cause problems in the few minutes I got. I'll always try and do that."

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It is difficult to judge players properly when they come on late in a game, but Cole Palmer did well against Slovenia, and England looked more of a threat.

It was the same with Anthony Gordon, who had a couple of runs down the left. With him on the pitch, we probably looked more dangerous down that flank in the final five minutes as we did in the rest of the three games combined.

The move right at the end that started with Jude Bellingham and Gordon on the left and ended with Palmer's shot being saved was probably the best thing England did all night.

It was the only time at these Euros that I saw us move the ball from left to right with pace, and it caused the opposition problems.

We need to see much more of that. Palmer and Gordon could be the key to providing the spark and energy we have been badly missing.

That is what gives me the most hope because there has not been very much else to get excited about.

Palmer and Gordon have given Gareth Southgate something massive to think about - and he has got some huge decisions to make.

One tiny positive from our tournament is the side of the draw we are now on - avoiding Spain, France, Portugal and Germany has done us a huge favour - but I'm not sure we can go into any game right now feeling confident about winning.

Normally I would say that our tournament starts here, but I do not really know what to expect in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday, whoever we end up facing.

Read more from Shearer here