In Focus: Five positions Newcastle need to strengthen

It promises to be a busy summer for Newcastle as they look to bolster their squad ahead of next season. 

Having qualified for the Champions League, manager Eddie Howe will be keen to make reinforcements. 

Ahead of the transfer window opening, we take a look at the positions in which the Magpies need to strengthen. 

Left-back

Dan Burn has done a great job since joining the club but he is not anybody's idea of a modern attacking left-back. 

While the 6ft 6in defender's presence allows Kieran Trippier to get forward, he does not bring much thrust to his own flank. 

Kieran Tierney has been suggested as a replacement. 

The Arsenal man is unsuited to Mikel Arteta's system that demands the left-back drift into central midfield. A fee of around £30million would see the Scot move north. 

Centre-back

If Tierney comes in, Burn would be freed to cover Sven Botman on the left side of central defence. 

On the right, Fabian Schar has had a fine season, but the Tynesiders are likely to try to upgrade upon the 31-year-old and their captain Jamaal Lascelles, who only played 11 games last season. 

Newcastle are one of many clubs to be linked with Napoli centre-back Minjae Kim, who has a reported £51m release clause and would form a formidable partnership with Botman. 

Central midfield

It is possible that Howe will target two central midfielders, a defensive-minded anchor and a creative option.

Southampton youngster Romeo Lavia and Nice talent Khephren Thuram are two players reported to be in the frame to fill the defensive role, which could free Bruno Guimaraes to play higher up the pitch.

Other Saints midfielders linked are James Ward-Prowse and the versatile Carlos Alcaraz, while Everton rising star Amadou Onana has been mentioned as a possible target. 

A particularly exciting option would be Leicester playmaker James Maddison, who could be available for as little as £40m this summer. 

Wide forward

Maddison played off the flanks for Leicester in their relegation campaign so is a candidate to play in this role, too.

Newcastle could also turn to RB Leipzig ace Dominik Szoboszlai. 

The Hungarian scored 10 goals and assisted 13 last season and has been linked with the Magpies, who are likely to target a right-sided forward to challenge Miguel Almiron and upgrade on Jacob Murphy. 

Tottenham winger Dejan Kulusevski is also in the frame, with the North Londoners yet to make his move from Juventus permanent. 

One left-sided forward mentioned as a possible target is Sadio Mane, who could leave Bayern Munich this summer. 

Striker

Howe seems likely to strengthen up top, too, with Mane also a candidate to fill in centrally.

Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak are the current options, with Chris Wood set to join Nottingham Forest permanently.

St James' Park chiefs are said to be monitoring Napoli talisman Victor Osimhen, who would represent a marquee signing having scored 26 goals in Serie A last season. 

Another hotshot reportedly of interest is Atalanta's 20-year-old Rasmus Hojlund.