Pep Guardiola makes Newcastle United admission as Magpies tipped to ‘enter race’ for Liverpool target

Newcastle United managed to pick up only their second win of the season over the weekend.

Callum Wilson’s penalty decided a close clash with Brentford, but ahead of kicking off their Champions League campaign, Eddie Howe and his men won’t have been too bothered about how they got the win, especially after going into the international break in poor form. The Magpies can now prepare for AC Milan with some wind in their sales, and there is plenty of excitement ahead of that clash.

In the meantime, we have rounded up all the latest news and transfer rumours surrounding St James’ Park.

Bowen race

Journalist Ben Jacobs says it’s worth ‘keeping an eye’ on Newcastle in the unfolding Jarrod Bowen race.

“Let’s see whether the Liverpool links develop,” Jacobs told GiveMeSport. “I think the only thing Liverpool will look at as far as Bowen, in a year’s time, is just the fact that he will be 27 years of age, and by next summer, he will actually be pushing pretty close to 28, because he’s born in December.

“So, he’ll turn 27 in only a few months, and by the time we get to next summer, if you sign him in August, you’ve got a 28-year-old. So, given the money that West Ham would want for Bowen, and given the profile of the player age wise, that might be a negative working against him in some ways.

“So I think it’s too early to be making definitive connections between Liverpool and Bowen. But one thing’s for sure, he’s one to watch next summer in 2024, because there will be plenty of clubs with Champions League football that take a very close look at the player. I think Newcastle is perhaps another club to keep an eye on as well in 12 months time.”

Guardiola’s Cup admission

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has admitted he will have to play some youth players against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup in a couple of weeks’ time.

“The problem when you have a lot of injuries is maybe not today but over three, four, five games,” he said. “We have to go away to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup and I’m sorry but we are going to have to play with some players from the second team because we cannot take the risks.

“Kevin (De Bruyne) is still out, John (Stones) is still out, Kova (Kovacic) I don’t know, Jack I don’t know. When you have all the squad you go to Newcastle with a good team but now we just have to rest, recover well, train and try to arrive on the day of the game in the best condition possible. We cannot waste energy. I was on holiday but these guys were playing 90 minutes for their national teams and then travelling back from Bolivia and Brazil.

“It’s so exhausting for them and not just for us, for all teams. Look at [Edson] Alvarez for West Ham, coming with jet lag from South America and playing against us. We treat players in not a good way.”