The World Cup is doing a fantastic job of filling the Premier League void, but there is nothing quite like club football.
As the tournament in North America heads towards its climax, there is a Newcastle United fanbase waiting for the 2026-27 season with anticipation.
So, it has got us thinking: what are you looking forward to most about club football resuming?
Matthew Raisbeck
BBC Radio Newcastle's Newcastle United commentator
Image source, Getty ImagesIt looks very much like Johan Manzambi is going to be an Aston Villa player and not a Newcastle United one.
It's a familiar feeling - Newcastle missing out on someone that they had worked hard to bring to St James' Park and appeared to be close to completing a deal for.
However, despite reaching an agreement with Manzambi's German club, Freiburg, nothing had been signed by the player.
He still had to decide where his future was going to be and Villa, who can offer Champions League football this season, stepped up their interest in the 20-year-old midfielder and he is on his way there instead.
Manzambi missed Switzerland's final two matches at the World Cup with a knee injury. We're not sure how serious it is.
But he had a great campaign for Freiburg, got the Europa League young player of the season award and played in the final against Villa, who won the trophy and therefore came across him in person just a couple of months ago.
Financially for Newcastle that deal wouldn't have been a problem, not least because of the money they have brought in already this summer - but when you miss out on another top target when it appeared to be close, it's frustrating and looks a bit embarrassing again, particularly as it has been played out in public.
It's another big disappointment in the transfer market.
They are identifying top players but, in some high-profile cases, they are just not able to get the deals done and other clubs are nipping in. It's a bad look and a bad feeling.
Listen to the full chat here and explore Newcastle content on BBC Sounds
Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa are working on a deal for Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi, as they attempt to hijack a move to Newcastle United.
Newcastle had appeared to be in pole position to sign Manzambi in a deal worth in the region of £50m, but BBC Sport previously reported the club had been a little cautious given the interest from elsewhere.
This is a painful case of deja vu.
It was just a few weeks ago that Newcastle lost out on another top target, Victor Munoz, who opted to join Liverpool.
Talent identification is clearly not the issue.
Newcastle have targeted Manzambi, Munoz, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro, Benjamin Sesko and James Trafford in the past 12 months.
But losing another top target to Villa would be another real setback in the transfer market.
If Newcastle miss out, the big question is: can the club discreetly pivot to another promising target, as they did with Bazoumana Toure after Munoz went elsewhere?
On one hand, there is plenty of time left in the transfer window to do just that and strengthen other areas of the side.
On the other hand, there is a lot of work to do and little margin for any further knockbacks.
The sight of those players not involved at the World Cup returning for pre-season training on Monday was a timely reminder of that.
Pre-season is just around the corner and the Premier League returns in less than 50 days.
Here is Newcastle's pre-season schedule - with kick-off times in BST.
18 July v Darlington (A- behind closed doors)
25 July v Gateshead (A) - 12:30
29 July v Bristol City (A) - 19:30
8 August v Valencia (A) - 20:00
12 August v Everton (Edinburgh) - 17:15
15 August v Bayer Leverkusen (H) - 15:00
16 August v Strasbourg (H) - 16:00
Bruno Guimaraes is viewed as not being for sale by Newcastle, despite Arsenal thinking they could sign the midfielder for £50m. (Newcastle Chronicle), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column
When the World Cup ends, regardless of who wins, we'll still have loads of great content every day as we build up to the new Premier League season.
We're already working on some exciting new things for 2026-27.
As well as all the fallout and reaction to the tournament, we'll quickly shift back towards club football, with pre-season coverage and all the latest transfer gossip and stories.
BBC Sport and teams across BBC Nations and Regions cover all 20 Premier League sides and we have dedicated club reporters, who will be travelling to bring you behind-the-scenes insights from pre-season tours.
We'll also have live pages for selected pre-season matches, as well as in-depth features and storytelling, giving you the latest updates before the new campaign.
Once the World Cup ends, some of the standout players will be hot property in the transfer market, with top clubs chasing their signatures.
Our reporters, including senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel, will be breaking the big transfer stories on our website and app.
We'll also have our daily transfer gossip column, wrapping up all the rumours from across the football world.
For fans of World Cup Predictor, a new weekly game will be launching immediately after the tournament, with five fixtures a week to predict the outcomes of. You'll be able to build up your streaks and share your results with friends and family.
Our quizzes will also continue to be available to play so you can test your knowledge of the beautiful game.
Our new Shorts tab in the BBC Sport app will be the home of sport videos with content throughout the week from your club, including explainers, pundit analysis, interviews and behind-the-scenes content. We'll also be starting to include more reaction from fans so you can see the latest hot takes and debate the biggest talking points from your club.
Live pages are going to get bigger and better with more interactive elements, more conversation and improved functionality. They'll have BBC Radio 5 Live audio commentaries for the Premier League and Champions League, as well as live video for FA Cup.
Remember, the best way to get all of this content is to download the BBC Sport app and follow your favourite teams and sports using the My Sport tab.
Once you've set this up, you'll have quick access to those pages at the top of your Home tab and we'll be able to serve you better, more personalised, experiences in future.
And when following your Premier League team, from the start of the 2026-27 season you'll also get Live Notifications, which give you score updates directly on your phone's lock screen during a match.
Charlotte Robson
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesIn the midst of the World Cup and seeing Newcastle players celebrated there (flowers for Dan Burn), it is easy to forget there's also a transfer window open. Actually, as a Newcastle fan, it's preferable to forget.
We sold Anthony Gordon, which everyone suspected was coming, and then Sandro Tonali, which surprised some but not most, and now we are stuck in limbo with Bruno Guimaraes, who has, apparently, made it known he'd like to go to Arsenal.
Pair that with a few instances of being outbid for players we all but thought were done deals - Victor Munoz to Liverpool (an unpleasantly familiar feeling) and now (maybe) Johan Manzambi to Aston Villa.
It solidifies my feeling that I just cannot let myself get excited about rumours until I see a picture of them signing a blank piece of paper on the club's Instagram page.
If we also lose Bruno then we will have lost a significant amount of our senior talent, to say the least. What is it that these players have been promised that isn't coming to fruition? Is it simply about money? All the questions this window has raised are the same questions that were bubbling up toward the end of last season. What's the plan? What's the ambition?
Once, a relegation-threatened Newcastle United could still draw in players like Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier and Sven Botman. What has changed? Why can't we attract or retain key talent any more?
Fans have been told to judge the summer in September, but it's very hard to when we're so desperate to see progress at our club and the narrative is that other clubs can swoop in and attract players we're supposedly after.
So far, it's just making me nervous about next season. Maybe it's a rebuild season and it will be OK, but fans are rightly frustrated by the window up to this point.
Find more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external
Image source, Getty ImagesNewcastle United winger Antonio Cordero has rejoined Cadiz on loan for the 2026-27 season after successful six-month spell at the club.
The 19-year-old, who joined the Magpies on a free transfer from Malaga in July 2025, spent the second half of last season on loan at the Spanish second tier side, making 21 appearances and scoring three goals.
Cordero spent the first half of the 2025-26 campaign with Belgian Pro League side Westerlo, but he was recalled by Newcastle sporting director Ross Wilson after making no starts.
Image source, Getty Images"Hopefully I can follow in his footsteps in the future," said Mason Miley - the brother of Newcastle United midfielder Lewis Miley - after signing his first professional contract with the club.
The 17-year-old, who can play in central midfield or at full-back, joined the club's academy at under-nine level before progressing through the youth ranks.
"I was delighted to get it signed a bit earlier after a good season," Miley told the club's official website, external after putting pen to paper. "It is a proud moment after being at the club from such a young age.
"It is my boyhood club and I like the way the club is going forward. We are wanting to compete in the biggest competitions, like the Champions League, so I really wanted to be here."
After making his under-21s debut in December 2025, Miley went on to register 11 Premier League 2 appearances last season - and he hopes to follow in his brother's footsteps soon.
"Lewis is in Newcastle's first team so hopefully I can follow in his footsteps in the future. To play with Lewis, in a Newcastle United shirt, for the first team is one of my ultimate goals. It would be an unreal moment for my family.
"We have been training together during the summer. He has helped me to maintain strong fitness levels and standards, which will help me when I return for pre-season.
"I'll be aiming to have another good season with the under-21s and trying to train with the first team as much as possible, impressing the staff and hopefully making an appearance in the matchday squad."
Sassuolo defender Tarik Muharemovic remains a target for Premier League clubs with Newcastle, Sunderland, Leeds and Bournemouth all keen on the 23-year-old Bosnia-Herzegovina international. (Corriere dello Sport via Football Italia), external
Atalanta have held discussions with Ederson over extending his contract after a deal to move to Manchester United broke down. Newcastle are still interested in the 27-year-old Brazil midfielder. (L'Eco di Bergamo - in Italian), external
The Magpies have held talks over Parma and Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, 23, as they look to secure a new main goalkeeper. (Newcastle Chronicle), external
Newcastle and Tottenham are both interested in Manchester City's 27-year-old Egypt forward Omar Marmoush. (Teamtalk), external
Everton want to sign Newcastle winger Jacob Murphy, who has one year left on his contract at St James' Park. (Talksport), external
Meanwhile, Aston Villa are finalising a move for 20-year-old Freiburg and Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi, who was on course to join Newcastle. (Athletic - requires subscription), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column
Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter
Several of you have been wondering - via our Newcastle Ask Me Anything form - whether there has been a change in transfer strategy at St James' Park and how involved head coach Eddie Howe is in recruitment.
Alignment has been a key word behind the scenes at Newcastle United for a while now.
Unlike a year ago, when Eddie Howe was at the coalface in the absence of an executive structure, the Newcastle head coach has been able to fall back on the support of sporting director Ross Wilson and chief executive David Hopkinson.
The window was mapped as a collective – no player has joined the club without Howe's approval – and it has then fallen to the club's hierarchy to bring these targets in.
Newcastle have previously signed players with the potential to grow, including Tino Livramento, Lewis Hall and William Osula, but this summer's strategy is taking that approach a step further.
Bazoumana Toure, Sean Steur and Ewen Jaouen are all aged 20 and under and have no prior Premier League experience.
It will take them time to adapt to the top flight, but the trio could flourish in the right hands and Howe's big passion is improving players on the training pitch.
He has spoken enthusiastically about each of the new signings and, given the financial rules in place, it feels like Newcastle simply have to do this a little differently.
It is hard to imagine the club spending £55m on a 29-year-old again like they did last summer with Yoane Wissa.
If Newcastle's revenues can grow alongside their young recruits then they may have a better chance of keeping hold of them in the long run.
But trading will remain a key part of the club's model moving forward.
In an ideal world Newcastle would not lose quite as many key figures as they have in the last 12 months following the departures of Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak.
Holding on to captain Bruno Guimaraes therefore feels crucial. It would be beyond damaging for the project if he was to also depart this summer.
Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions.
We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.
"When I see him put on the Newcastle shirt or the England shirt, the hairs on the back of my neck stick up," said Tom Woodhouse, Dan Burn's first ever coach at Blyth Town.
BBC Radio Newcastle caught up with Woodhouse about his first impression of Burn, what he was like to coach at a young age and his performance off the bench for the Three Lions against Mexico.
Hear the full interview below or listen on BBC Sounds
Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Newcastle United on XNewcastle had previously managed to keep hold of their most important players, but the side who made history by ending a seven-decade wait for a major domestic trophy in 2025 has broken up.
Of the 26 players pictured in a jubilant team photograph after the EFL Cup final win against Liverpool, 11 have left the club.
Some changes were overdue, yet there is also a delicate balance to strike.
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe touched upon this in one of his final news conferences of last season when he warned "the squad can't get weaker".
The squad, as it is now, has clear gaps, but Newcastle are understood to have made progress on a move for exciting Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi.
Newcastle have also completed the signings of winger Bazoumana Toure, midfielder Sean Steur and goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen.
Turning to younger players from European clubs is a strategy others have adopted successfully.
Bournemouth, who finished sixth last season, have shown how clubs can recover from the loss of key players with the help of smart recruitment and good coaching.
But experience is needed, too, and Bruno Guimaraes is priceless to Newcastle in that regard. Losing him would mean the whole project is called into question.
Nottingham Forest defender Neco Williams is attracting interest from several Premier League clubs, with Newcastle among the teams interested in the Wales international.
Williams is currently in talks over a new deal with Forest - but a number of top-flight rivals are keen on the 25-year-old.
It is understood Newcastle and Manchester United are among the clubs to have registered an interest in Williams while talks over a new contract continue.
Forest remain confident of securing a new deal but the interest in the full-back does create a potential obstacle to a successful conclusion of talks.
Williams still has three years to run on his current deal but Forest want to reward him for his impressive displays last season with an improved contract.
Williams joined Forest in July 2022 for a fee of £12m and has since gone on to make over 150 appearances for the club.
Image source, Getty ImagesPlenty of players have made names for themselves at this World Cup, from goalkeepers like Cape Verde's Vozinha and Paraguay's Orlando Gill to New Zealand midfielder Elijah Just.
But though they might not have been familiar to fans, the extent of modern scouting means clubs all over the world will already have known about many of them – so how have their heroics at the tournament affected their standing in the game, and their value in the transfer market?
More than the Score's Mani Djazmi is joined Ben Littlemore from Transfermarkt, one of the world's foremost football databases. Lutz Pfannenstiel, sporting director at Aberdeen, also shares his footballing knowledge in today's episode.
Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesRebuilding the squad was always on the cards at St James' Park this summer.
Newcastle, fresh from a settlement with Uefa, have needed to sell in order to significantly reinvest.
Anthony Gordon completed a £69.3m move to Barcelona while Sandro Tonali joined Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth up to £100m.
Such sales have helped to create headroom for Newcastle to spend within the game's financial rules.
There is a cold argument that this could also be the right time to cash in on Bruno Guimaraes, who tuns 29 in November.
Yet that does not take into account the Brazilian's true value to Newcastle as the team's beating heart.
Newcastle have suffered plenty of defeats with Guimaraes in the side, but it is a little telling that the club have only won two of the 16 Premier League games their influential talisman has missed since he joined.
Without Guimaraes, Newcastle's win percentage (12.5%), points per game (0.7), average goals for (0.8) and even average goals against (1.6) all suffer in the top flight.
Although it is an admittedly larger sample size, Opta data shows that Newcastle's win percentage (50.7%), points per game (1.7), average goals for (1.9) and average goals against (1.3) have been significantly higher when Guimaraes has featured.
Given his importance, season ticket holder Liam Phillips said he would be "absolutely devastated" if Guimaraes moves on, particularly after the midfielder's arrival signalled "hope and ambition" in 2022.
"His departure would be very symbolic in terms of what it says about the trajectory of the project," he said.
"Newcastle have lost Isak, Gordon and Tonali in the last 12 months. To lose Bruno would be very alarming."
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your views on Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes asking to leave the club amid interest from Premier League champions Arsenal.
Here are some of your comments:
Jona: Bruno wanting to leave is an inevitable by product of us selling our best players - Isak, Gordon and Tonali. While he would be the ideal captain to lead us during our rebuild, unfortunately you can understand him wanting to leave and challenge for titles. We'll just have to get the best fee we can for him and shop smart in the market to replace him.
Samuel: This could be more of a kick in the teeth than Isak. The club captain, who throughout his entire time at the club has seemed so devoted to the journey we're on. There was a sense of inevitability around the Gordon and Tonali transfers, but I suppose I didn't see this one coming. I said last year when Isak left that there was a lot of work to be done to change player perspectives of the club. Clearly there's still more to do.
Gordon: I am saddened but not surprised. Bruno has been special as the engine of the team. A great leader and he will be missed, of course. I don't blame him for seeking a stronger more successful club. I hope the deal is done quickly and without animosity.
Dave: Putting it mildly, it's an absolute disaster. Since he arrived, Bruno has been the beating heart of the team (see results when he's not played) and the most creative player in midfield. Without him, there is a distinct lack of passion, creativity and forward thinking. We desperately need to keep him or else a season without Europe could easily turn into a season without hope.
Tony: There's clearly a reason why all the top players are leaving. The team has gone stale under Howe. We will not challenge for the top honours and we don't have the ability to spend on top players. Bruno has been brilliant for the club and I'm happy to see him go and play for a top club and win silverware. His attitude and his love for the Toon cannot be faulted. It's just a shame the leadership and PSR have driven us to a point where this has happened.
Magpies fan Jonny Greenwood from True Faith NUFC Podcast joined Harry Roy on Total Sport to give his reaction to the news of Guimaraes asking to leave.
You can watch his reaction below or listen alongside reaction from BBC Radio Newcastle's Mathew Raisbeck and Roy on BBC Sounds here.
Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesNewcastle have targeted hungry players of a similar age this summer as part of their rebuild.
The club have signed winger Bazoumana Toure from Hoffenheim for £43m, goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen from Reims for about £18.5m and Ajax midfielder Sean Steur in a deal worth up to £23m.
The trio are all aged 20 and under and, following a series of knockbacks in the transfer market in the past year, it felt significant they were keen on making the move to St James' Park.
Could Johan Manzambi follow suit?
Freiburg are in a strong negotiating position following the midfielder's performances at the World Cup with Switzerland, but Newcastle have the headroom to reinvest within the financial rules after selling Sandro Tonali to Tottenham for a fee potentially rising to £100m.
The Magpies would also be able to offer Manzambi the platform to develop further with regular first-team football.
The next couple of weeks feel significant.
Manzambi, who changed representatives in the build-up to the window, has made it clear in interviews he will address his future after the World Cup.
He has certainly not let the growing interest distract him, which did not come as a surprise to Luigi Pisino, who coached him at Servette's academy.
"He's someone with his feet on the floor," he said. "He remains humble and has a lot of values, even outside of the pitch.
"He's really close to his biggest brother, who was always with him, and his father as well. They shared a lot of values."
Newcastle are not the only interested party, of course, and the club have been here before.
They thought a deal had been finalised for Victor Munoz when Liverpool emerged out of nowhere to sign the forward from Osasuna earlier this summer.
Hope remains, but there is still a degree of caution surrounding this pursuit as a result.
Image source, Getty ImagesNew Newcastle signing Sean Steur says it is an "incredible feeling" to sign for a "giant club" after his £23m move from Ajax was confirmed.
Midfielder Steur, 18, has become the third player aged 20 and under the Magpies have bought in so far this summer after Bazoumana Toure and Ewen Jaouen.
He has signed a five-year contract until 2031.
"It was always my dream to play in the best league in the world, so this is really exciting," Steur told club media.
"I was at home at Ajax – I joined when I was seven and I leave with only good memories - but when a club like Newcastle comes for you, it's really hard to say no. The last few days have gone fast and I'm very happy to join."
Steur established himself as a regular at Ajax in the second half of last season, starting in the De Klassieker win over Feyenoord at the age of just 17.
Magpies boss Eddie Howe described Steur as a "top young prospect", adding: "We see real potential in Sean and believe he has the characteristics to become a valuable player for us for years to come.
"Sean is an exciting addition to our squad. He's had an excellent upbringing at Ajax, who have an outstanding track record of producing young players."
Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesIt was a statement which was a little revealing, in hindsight.
"A very frustrating season, and without a doubt we are all very disappointed," Bruno Guimaraes wrote on Instagram after Newcastle's 2-0 defeat by Fulham on the final day of the season.
"You fans definitely did not deserve this."
Newcastle ended up finishing 12th in the Premier League, failing to qualify for Europe, let alone the Champions League.
Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali have since left, meaning Newcastle have lost three key players in less than a year, following Alexander Isak's protracted move to Liverpool last summer.
A shift in strategy has led to Newcastle targeting promising players aged 20 and under on the continent, such as Bazoumana Toure, who will naturally need a little time to flourish.
Guimaraes would be the ideal figure to help lead this rebuild for Newcastle as the club's captain and heartbeat.
Yet this is clearly a delicate juncture in his career as he approaches his 29th birthday.
Could it be one of his last chances to go somewhere else and compete for some of the biggest prizes in the game?
Guimaraes, ideally, hoped to do so at Newcastle one day, having talked of the club's ambition to be a "big power" following his move from Lyon in 2022.
So losing him would be beyond damaging and call the whole project into question.
Given the going rate for midfielders, Newcastle would be in a strong position to command a premium for the Brazil starter - far more than the £60m mooted.
But no-one at the club will want to contemplate such a thought. Guimaraes really is priceless to this side.
Razor: Manzambi snub 'looks a bit embarrassing' Audio, 5 minutes
Matthew Raisbeck reacts to the deal for Swiss midfielder Yohan Manzambi collapsing.
Razor: Burn's sub performances 'great to see' Audio, 2 minutes
Newcastle United commentator Matthew Raisbeck reacts to Dan Burn's World Cup performances
'I'm so proud of Dan' Audio, 7 minutes
Simon Pryde talks to Dan Burn's former coach at Blyth Town, Tom Woodhouse.
Guimaraes asks to leave Newcastle. Audio, 16 minutes
Harry Roy, Matthew Raisbeck and Jonny Greenwood react to Bruno exit speculation.
