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(Credit: Hasan Karim - Breaking Media, Imago)

Oliver Walton

Wed 6 August 2025 21:30, UK

Newcastle and Eddie Howe look set to be rejected once again this summer as they target a surprise move for Aston Villa stalwart John McGinn.

There was lots of positivity around St James’ Park following Newcastle’s Champions League qualification at the end of 2024/25, but that has now dissipated due to their recent struggles in the transfer market.

Football Insider revealed in June that Newcastle are expected to make up to three major signings this summer, but they have routinely missed out on their top targets so far, as Hugo Ekitike has joined Liverpool, while they wanted to sign Bryan Mbeumo but were beaten to the transfer by Man United.

Football Insider revealed that Howe was “devastated” to have missed out on signing Joao Pedro earlier this summer, and they have also been rocked by star striker Alexander Isak wanting to leave St James’ Park, while Benjamin Sesko looks set to join Man United rather than the Magpies in their latest major setback.

(Credit: Manh Tung – Breaking Media)

All of these missed targets will massively irk Howe and their supporters who were promised a fruitful window after their success last season, and they could be line for another soon following a new transfer development.

The Daily Mail (6 August) have revealed that Newcastle are considering a move for Aston Villa captain McGinn, with Howe wanting to add another midfielder to his ranks following Sean Longstaff’s move to Leeds United.

Their report states that the Magpies believe that the Scottish international could be available this window and might be ready for a fresh challenge, especially with Howe’s side set to take part in the Champions League.

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Despite their interest, a move that sees McGinn leave Villa Park, where he has become a cult hero since his 2018 move from Hibernian, seems highly unlikely to happen right now for a number of reasons.

(Credit Imago)

McGinn has two years left to run on his contract, and aside from his own personal view, the Mail claim that Unai Emery does not want to lose his services this summer.

Villa have already fended off interest in the all-action midfielder from Everton since the last campaign ended, and Football Insider revealed last month that the Villans told the Toffees that McGinn is not for sale this summer.

The Second City outfit would surely demand way too much for his signature for Newcastle to justify a move, especially since he is a replacement for Longstaff, who started just eight league games last season.

AppearancesGoalsAssists2853040McGinn’s Aston Villa career stats

McGinn would also likely not leave his role as captain to join a club where he is mainly going to be a back-up to the likes of Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, especially after he played in 34 top-flight games in 2024/25.

As well as that, he is now 30-years-old and turning 31 in October, so it’s not like he has much room to grow and get any better at Newcastle, and they should be targeting younger players if they want to be a powerhouse of English football for numerous years to come.

Newcastle have suffered blow after blow throughout this summer window, with a number of their key targets not joining the club, while they could also miss out on a back-up target too after Brentford insisted that Yoane Wissa is not for sale.

Howe has guided the Magpies to some hugely successful seasons since his arrival, but he may feel that time is up for him at St James’ Park given their recent setbacks, that is, if he is not sacked before he potentially walks after Football Insider revealed on Monday (28 July) that PIF feel that Howe is partly to blame for their poor window.

Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media

The Magpies boss is said to have been “blind-sided” by news that Isak wants to leave the club, with their Saudi owners surprisingly getting involved in the situation rather than leaving him to deal with it, so all is clearly not well at the top regarding his status as boss.

Being rejected by McGinn would just be another in a long line of setbacks so far this summer, and at this point, it would not be a shock to see Howe leave St James’ Park in the coming weeks.

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