Newcastle United have stepped away from the action zone as the October international break takes the stage. But Newcastle are anything but idle, having appointed a new technical director in Ross Wilson from Nottingham Forest.
Wilson, 41, leaves the City Ground having overseen a rise from relegation candidates in the Premier League to European contenders, having finished seventh last year after heavy spending.
In the dugout, Eddie Howe is a meticulous man. He knows every nook and every cranny of his opponents’ half, having profiled each player and grasped their strengths and their weaknesses. Wilson has a personality apt to connect with the tactician’s own bearing.
Newcastle have earned their flowers for their fast rise in the years since PIF completed their club takeover, qualifying for the Champions League in two of the last three seasons and winning the Carabao Cup last year.
But Paul Mitchell left his post less than one year after Dan Ashworth departed, and there’s no denying the Magpies recruitment drive has been knocked somewhat out of kilter. That is now anticipated to change.
Ross Wilson's recruitment record
Before Nottingham Forest, it was Rangers. While in Scotland, it was Wilson who sat behind the desk when Steven Gerrard led the club to the Premiership title, still the Gers’ sole title success since 2011.
And after moving to the Premier League, his reputation has only grown, with Wilson considered a real coup for the Tynesiders and further evidence of the fall from stability at Forest.
According to the i Paper, it is understood that Newcastle will seek to reward Sandro Tonali, Sven Botman and Tino Livramento with new deals once the transfer specialist is instated.
One of Wilson’s biggest strengths is his ability to identify and sign first-team candidates who both align with the manager’s tactical vision and the club’s wider culture.
Though this summer was one of much upheaval at Newcastle, there’s no denying Howe has eased the loss of Alexander Isak to Liverpool with a range of impactful additions, Nick Woltemade and Malick Thiaw in particular shining across the early months of the season.
Still, the direction has been at times uncertain, business taking an almost fragmented quality. Wilson, in tandem with Howe, could change that, with some exciting potential options already being discussed.
Who Ross Wilson could sign at Newcastle
Wilson signed his fair share of first-team players at Nottingham Forest, having joined from Rangers in 2023. At the time, the Midlands side were embroiled in a relegation battle in the Premier League and had not yet parted with Steve Cooper and brought in Nuno Espirito Santo.
Forest now have their own issues, with Edu and Nuno’s conflict leading to a divorce which has left the club’s meteoric rise in tatters. Wilson played his part, though, and may now fancy a step-up to St. James’ Park.
Newcastle, for sure, have work to do if they wish to settle permanently alongside the Premier League elite. With Wilson and Howe working together, this could bear dividends, especially when considering Howe’s recent comments regarding Elliot Anderson, who was sold to the City Ground for about £35m in 2024 as the Toon scrambled to ease their PSR suffering.
Last week, the manager called Anderson, 22, a “precious” talent who he would “love” to welcome back to his boyhood club, and now Newcastle have landed Wilson, that potential lane of communication has very much stretched open.
It would be a costly one to engineer, to be sure, but now, it certainly seems a whole lot more likely.
And there’s more. Nick Pope is still performing at 33 years old, but he’s out of contract at the end of the season and a replacement might be required, even with Aaron Ramsdale having joined on loan in August.
James Trafford came within a whisker of signing for the Magpies this summer, and now that he’s on the fringes at Manchester City, he might recieve a call from Wilson down the line.
That should just about do it. Howe leads a complete and robust Newcastle side, but even though £55m was forked out for Forest’s Anthony Elanga this summer, there might be a desire to add another winger to the ranks.
And who better than Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, who was very much on the club’s radar this summer? The Cherries fought off interest from many of the Premier League’s biggest hitters, with the Ghanaian forward signing a new contract at the club.
The vultures still circle, though, and Newcastle are among that kettle of suitors looking to strike a deal, having prepared a bid in the final weeks of the window. Liverpool are also keen, showing interest as recently as this week, and they have been met with demands of a £75m payment from the south coast club.
Semenyo would cost a pretty penny, alright, but there’s little question that he’d be a fantastic addition, having scored six goals and supplied three more across seven top-flight appearances this season.
We know already that Howe wanted to bring the prolific forward to the club, and now Wilson will help promote Howe’s vision.
GK
James Trafford
RB
Tino Livramento
CB
Malick Thiaw
CB
Sven Botman
LB
Lewis Hall
DM
Sandro Tonali
CM
Bruno Guimaraes
CM
Elliot Anderson
RW
Antoine Semenyo
LW
Anthony Gordon
ST
Nick Woltemade
It’s exciting to note that even with Isak having been sold this summer, Newcastle have a dynamic crop of players capable of hitting even loftier heights than were struck last season. But with the likes of Trafford and Anderson and Semenyo added to the fold, Newcastle would go from strength to strength.
One Premier League analyst has even claimed Semenyo is “one of the best players in the world”. These are the heights Newcastle must be striving for, and Wilson can make it happen.
