Arsenal left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko is a target for Newcastle United and Bayern Munich, with the Gunners wanting £38.5m (£32.9m) euros for the 27-year-old Ukraine international. (Football Transfers), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column
Raul Kohli and Matthew Raisbeck are joined by presenter Ross Tweddell from Cultaholic who explained his love for Jacob Murphy and the response he got from the player when an image of a tattoo he has of him made it on to the internet.
"I've always had a deep connection with the underdogs of our teams," he said.
"Jacob's roots are in the area. I don't forget the loans to West Brom, to Sheffield Wednesday, and for him to come back second half of last season and do what he did - it was worthwhile."
Listen to the full episode of the Total Sport: Newcastle United podcast on BBC Sounds
BBC Radio Newcastle's Matthew Raisbeck has broken down the contract situation of some of Eddie Howe's squad, including goalkeeper Loris Karius who is reportedly keen on a move to Italy.
"Karius, like [Matt] Ritchie, [Paul] Dummett and a couple of others, will be out of contract this summer," he said.
"Some of those fringe players will have to leave to make way for new signings."
Listen to the full episode of the Total Sport: Newcastle United podcast on BBC Sounds
Brazil midfielder Joelinton wants to stay in the Premier League even if the 27-year-old cannot agree a new deal beyond 2025 with Newcastle United. (Football Insider, external)
Bournemouth technical director Richard Hughes is seen as likely to go to Newcastle United after the 44-year-old confirmed he will leave his position at the end of the season. (Independent, external)
Newcastle United are in talks to sign Bournemouth's 25-year-old defender Lloyd Kelly on a free transfer. (Mail, external)
Four Premier League clubs are battling it out to sign Copenhagen's £20m-rated Roony Bardghji, with the Magpies, Aston Villa, Tottenham and Manchester United all keen on the 18-year-old Swedish midfielder. (HITC, external)
Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Matty Renton
Fan writer
"Intensity is our identity" is a catchphrase that Eddie Howe has proudly displayed at the club's Benton training ground.
In recent months, it’s looked like our passports had been stolen and nobody knew who we were: Jason Bourne FC.
This was predominantly down to injury and fatigue. Players have been forced to return early from injury lay-offs to cover cracks, resulting in further long-term damage.
Every week, Howe was forced to field a near-identical starting XI for Newcastle. This proved particularly damaging at the end of 2023 when the Magpies had 11 games in just over a month.
Now, he finally has players at his disposal who can come off the bench, unlike in months gone by where the substitutes were made up of teenagers and three goalkeepers.
To be honest, I was tempted to do this piece solely on Joe Willock, because his absence has clearly been a monumental miss. He started only his second Premier League game of the season on Saturday and his energy was unmatched.
His presence in midfield is paramount to Howe’s style of play - he makes others look better and is both someone who drives forward and is resilient in defence.
Last weekend's performance was one of the best in a while from the Magpies - the type of display we became accustomed to last season.
Newcastle United’s identity is back.
Matty Renton can be found on The Magpie Channel TV, external
Newcastle United are close to agreeing a new contract with Joelinton, with the 27-year-old midfielder having little over a year left on his current deal. (Telegraph - subscription required), external
The Magpies plan to send 19-year-old Gambia winger Yankuba Minteh out on loan for a second season. Minteh, who Newcastle signed from Danish club Odense Boldklub for £6m last summer, has been at Dutch side Feyenoord this term. (the i), external
Want more transfer news and gossip? Read Tuesday's full column
We asked you for your thoughts on Saturday's Premier League match between Newcastle and Wolves.
Here are some of your comments:
Newcastle fans
Stephen: Much more like our old selves today. We still looked nervy before the first goal but at two up, we never felt in trouble. It's been a tough year but we are hanging on in there for the European places. Eddie has done a good job to keep us in contention despite the injuries and relatively small squad that has had to deal with all the fixtures.
David: The best performance of 2024. Won 50/50 balls all day. Defence much sharper while Joe Willock and Tino Livramento were great. Sean Longstaff still not at his best, but otherwise it was a considerable improvement.
Simon: Great result. Much better defensive shape and midfield giving greater opportunities to forward players. Not perfect but clearly a step in the right direction against a strong team with good away form this season. Definitely a result to push us forward this season. Well done lads, Eddie and staff.
Alan: Let’s not get carried away - still closer to the bottom four than the top four. Hopefully we will climb another few places before the end of the season. WHY will they not start Livramento every game? He can play virtually any position.
Wolves fans
Ken: It was ludicrous to loan out two central strikers in the window given the size of the squad. I could understand them not buying more players, but that poor decision now threatens to severely impact the rest of a great season. It is not only about goals scored, but in not being able to put enough pressure on opponents as was clear against Newcastle.
Kieran: Shame we lost Pedro Neto and Jose Sa. These injuries are something we can’t afford now. Both Sa and Neto were on good runs of form.
Mike: Disappointing performance - the squad is stretched with too many injuries. However, Newcastle were able to bring on Miguel Almiron and Harvey Barnes, Wolves had to bring on two kids with less than 90 minutes of Premier League experience between them. We will fight on and look for a much better performance next week.
VJ: We just don't have the squad to compete for Europe. Even if we did manage to qualify, it would be detrimental to Premier League survival next season as we don't have the finances to build a big squad. We have achieved what we set out to do this season which was survival so credit to Gary and the lads!
Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.
If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.
Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries in full:
Image source, Getty ImagesNewcastle manager Eddie Howe, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I'm really pleased. It was a tough game - Wolves’ away form has been really strong.
"I think we had quite a shaky start. We didn’t really dominate [early on] but the [first] goal really made a big difference.
"It was evident it made a difference to everyone within the stadium, then we scored a really good second goal. The third goal came a little too late for us to enjoy the second half.
"Our form has been pretty good since the turn of the year. Hopefully we can return to our best levels. This was a big game for us back at home. We now go away to some tough places. [The win] puts us back in contention."
On Tino Livramento: "He’s an incredible athlete. He’s done very well whenever he’s played for us this season. I thought it was a great goal."
On Kieran Trippier's injury: "He felt a slight pain in his calf, so let’s wait and see."
Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesNewcastle's win over Wolves was Eddie Howe's 100th in the Premier League as a manager, but a first home triumph - and clean sheet - since 16 December will mean a great deal more to the Magpies boss than any personal milestones.
Howe's team had conceded 12 goals in their last four league matches at St James' Park - as many as the whole of 2022-23 - but on Saturday they looked much more like the side that secured Champions League football for the first time in 20 years last term.
They appeared to gain in confidence after Alexander Isak's opener and could have doubled their advantage before Anthony Gordon capitalised on a mix-up between Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa and defender Max Kilman to make it 2-0.
When Wolves finally got going midway through the second half, the hosts stood firm - Martin Dubravka producing fine saves to deny Nathan Fraser, Pablo Sarabia and Jeanricner Bellegarde.
The only sour note for the Magpies was a calf injury to captain Kieran Trippier, who was replaced by Tino Livramento - who capped a fine afternoon with his first goal for the club - seven minutes into the second half.
Newcastle have won their first home Premier League game of 2024 – ending a run of four consecutive games in the competition without a win at St James' Park.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has recorded his 100th win in the Premier League, making him the eighth English manager to reach that milestone in the competition.
Wolves have won just one of their nine away meetings with Newcastle in the Premier League (2-1 in December 2018 under Nuno Espirito Santo) and they’ve lost each of their last three visits to St James’ Park.
Newcastle have scored in all 18 of their Premier League games against Wolves - only Arsenal (26 v West Brom and 19 v Wolves) have faced a side on more occasions with a 100% scoring record in the competition.
Alexander Isak has scored 12 goals in his first 20 home Premier League games for Newcastle, only Alan Shearer (21), Andy Cole (21) and Les Ferdinand (16) have scored more in their first 20 at St James' Park for the Magpies.
Each of Anthony Gordon’s last seven Premier League strikes have come at home. Only Mohamed Salah (13) and Leon Bailey (12) have been directly involved in more home goals than Gordon in the Premier League this season (11 – eight goals, three assists).
Goals from Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento helped Newcastle overcome Wolves and register their first home win in the Premier League since mid-December.
Sweden international Isak nodded in at the end of a sweeping counter-attack involving Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes, whose left-footed shot deflected off Craig Dawson and into the striker's path.
Eddie Howe's team doubled their advantage when Jose Sa and Max Kilman failed to deal with Jacob Murphy's low cross and Gordon pounced on the loose ball to fire home.
Wolves had the lion's share of possession at St James' Park but failed to test Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka until midway through the second half, when half-time substitute Nathan Fraser's low shot from the edge of the box was palmed clear.
Dubravka produced a superb stop to deny Pablo Sarabia moments later, but Livramento bundled home his first Newcastle goal in stoppage time to put the seal on the Magpies' first home victory since their 3-0 win over Fulham on 16 December.
Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?
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There are seven games being played in the Premier League on Saturday and we will bring you every moment.
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Radio commentaries
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Image source, Getty ImagesWolves boss Gary O'Neil has praised "incredible" Newcastle United counterpart Eddie Howe for what he has done in the game.
O'Neil's side face the Magpies in the Premier League on Saturday, with both teams - sitting ninth and 10th respectively - vying for the European places.
The sides couldn't be separated when they met in the reverse fixture in October, playing out a 2-2 draw at Molineux and the former Bournemouth managers will both be hoping their side can secure a win this time around.
Speaking in his pre-match news conference about Howe's impact, O'Neil said: "I think he is an incredible manager. I know him well, played with him at Portsmouth and our paths have crossed, previously with Bournemouth stuff.
"What he did with Bournemouth was incredible and sustaining them in the Premier League was one of the greatest football stories in English history to take club of that size from where they were to where he got them too.
"Going to Newcastle could have been seen initially as a good job to go into - lots of money to spend, you will be able to improve it fairly easily. I can assure you it was not like that. That was a tough job to go into with a lot of expectation and he has grasped the place and you can see the togetherness there every time they play.
"He is someone I can look at as a young manager coming through in England, with him a few years ahead of me. It's very impressive what he has achieved. You will always go through a spell where results aren't quite what you hope and in this job you always know criticism is coming but he can handle that."
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.
For this weekend's games, he takes on Sam McTrusty and Ross McNae from rock band Twin Atlantic.
Sutton's prediction: 2-1
The more I see of Wolves, the more I can see why they are doing well. They are well organised and carry a threat, although Matheus Cunha's injury is a blow.
Like Gary O'Neil's side, Newcastle also reached the FA Cup quarter-finals in midweek - but they were a bit fortunate to get past my old team Blackburn on penalties, and their display underlined how they are not the force they were last season.
Just as I've been doing with Everton, I keep backing Newcastle at home but they haven't won any of their past four games at St James' Park.
That has to change if Eddie Howe is going to keep his job. I don't think he is on the verge of being sacked but he does need a strong end to the season to maintain that belief that he is the man to take them forward.
Of course he is striving to do that but, right now, they are 10th and miles off the kind of form they showed to crack the Champions League places last season, when Howe over-achieved.
Wherever they finish in the table, they need to get back to being the swashbuckling team they were earlier on in this campaign.
The more I think about it, the more I think Wolves will nick this but I am actually going to keep backing Newcastle, because the law of averages means they are going to win at St James' Park again sooner or later.
Sam's prediction: 3-2
Ross' prediction: 3-2
Image source, Getty ImagesIs there a tougher FA Cup quarter-final draw than Manchester City away?
Newcastle will face the seven-time winners and reigning champions for a place in the semi-final at Wembley and boss Eddie Howe knows exactly how "difficult" that promises to be.
"I was driving at the time and nearly swerved off the road!" he said. "It’s not the draw we wanted that's for sure.
"No one wants to play Man City four times in a season, but I believe we can beat anybody when we're playing at our best."
Newcastle have lost both league games against Pep Guardiola's side this season but did overcome them in the third round of the Carabao Cup at St James' Park in September.
In fact, that is the sole time City have been knocked out of a competition since autumn 2022.
"When you have time to analyse things you realise to win the FA Cup you have to beat Man City at some stage in the competition," added Howe.
"It's sooner than we'd have liked but we have to give everything to try and win. It will be difficult but we can do it.
"That feeling that everyone is against us [to win] I want us to use it positively. We’re still in it and we will fight to be in it until the end."
Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist
Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Wolves.
Here are the key lines from the Newcastle boss:
Sven Botman is likely to return to the matchday squad. Howe said the centre-back was "looking good" and was only absent against Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup to work on "individual training to get back to his very best levels."
He said penalty shootouts "are a surreal feeling for a manager" because "you're totally helpless and you're watching almost like a supporter."
On drawing Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup: "It wasn’t the draw we wanted that’s for sure. No one wants to play Man City four times in a season but I believe we can beat anybody when we're at our best."
He said "confidence can be a difficult thing to find" and starts with winning games, but he and his team "are working behind the scenes to create it."
He praised midfielder Elliot Anderson for returning from injury and showing "such composure" to take a penalty, but added "he’s not in the condition we need him in yet to play regularly."
On the return of Joe Willock, Alex Murphy and Anderson: "The whole group has been lifted by that. Our challenge now is to get them to full fitness as quickly as possible."
He said Wolves are "dangerous opponents" because they "bring a counter-attacking threat," but added "we're confident going into the game."
Speaking about the importance of winning on Saturday to keep hopes of a top-eight finish alive: "We can’t drop too many points, whether home or away. We know we are running out of chances - we have to start Saturday. There is no easy game in the Premier League but we have to start winning consistently."
Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences
Here are the key facts and figures before Saturday's game between Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.
Newcastle have lost just one of their eight Premier League home games against Wolves, a 2-1 defeat in December 2018 under Rafael Benitez.
The 17 previous Premier League meetings between Newcastle and Wolves have seen both sides score 16 times, with the only clean sheet in this fixture in the competition coming via the Magpies’ 1-0 win in April 2022.
Of the 17 previous Premier League matches played between Newcastle and Wolves, 11 have been drawn (four Newcastle wins, two Wolves), the highest proportion of any fixture to be played 15 or more times in the competition (65%). The reverse fixture at Molineux this season finished 2-2.
Wolves have won 11 Premier League games this season, already as many as they did in the whole of 2022-23. They have won six of their past nine in the competition, with only Manchester City and Liverpool winning more since the start of that run on 24 December
Newcastle have conceded 23 goals in their past eight Premier League games, as many as they had in their previous 20. Only Brentford (24) have shipped more goals than the Magpies in the competition since Christmas.
Football's congested schedule is not just risking players' health but it is "killing the product", says Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Maheta Molango.
Several tournaments are expanding, which is increasing revenue streams.
Newcastle United, who qualified for their first Champions League campaign since 2002-03, have suffered the most injuries this season, with 29 across their squad, including three spells on the sidelines for Callum Wilson. They also have the highest number of days lost to injuries.
Last season, the Magpies were the only team across Europe's top five leagues that had nine outfield players feature in 75% of all league games.
However, with European football this season, their injury record per 1,000 minutes played (8.6) is actually better than Nottingham Forest (9.5) and Tottenham (10.2), who have no European football.
Manchester United and Liverpool, who have had well-documented injury issues throughout this season, also feature highly in the table.
