It is less than a month until Newcastle United are back in competitive action as they welcome newly-promoted Southampton to St James’ Park on the opening weekend of the 2024-25 Premier League season.
The Magpies finished seventh last term but were denied a spot in the Europa Conference League following Manchester United’s victory in the FA Cup final at Wembley. Eddie Howe’s side qualified for the Champions League in their last campaign without European football and will be aiming to clinch a spot in some form of European competition come the end of the upcoming campaign.
Clubs are continuing with their transfer business with further deals expected to follow after the conclusion of Euro 2024 and Copa America. Newcastle have secured a permanent deal for last season’s loanee Lewis Hall while Lloyd Kelly has joined on a free transfer. John Ruddy and Odysseas Vlachodimos have also arrived to bolster the club’s goalkeeping department.
As clubs continue their transfer business, we have done the unenviable job of trying to predict how the Premier League table will look come May - and where Newcastle might finish compared to their rivals. Take a look...
13. 8th: Chelsea
More change at Chelsea this summer with a new manager at the helm and a number of incomings and outgoings. The lack of continuity is likely to harm the Blues' hopes of improving from last year's 6th-placed finish. And with Europa Conference League football to consider, there's more demands on the Chelsea squad that could impact their Premier League position. | Getty Images
14. 7th: Newcastle United
Despite having super-rich owners, Newcastle do not have the ability to spend freely under PSR rules. Could struggle to better their finish from last season, as they placed 7th. | Getty Images
15. 6th: Aston Villa
An impressive fourth-place finish last season sees Villa in the Champions League football. The rigours of European football at the highest level might impact their domestic form, however and make last campaign's top-four finish hard to replicate | AFP via Getty Images
16. 5th: Tottenham Hotspur
Came up short in their bid for Champions League football last season but are in a good place to challenge again - and might just get it depending how many spots the Premier League get with up to five on offer. | AFP via Getty Images