Newcastle United will be based at the state-of-the-art Adidas headquarters in Germany this summer, Notebook can exclusively reveal.
To mark the sportswear giant’s arrival as the club’s official kit supplier, Eddie Howe and his team will travel to the £850 million World of Sports facility in Herzogenaurach in July. They will then return to Britain before flying to Japan on July 28 for a week-long stay, including two friendlies.
The trip to Germany could also include a match and final details are currently being finalized. The training camp will include various commercial activities, with Newcastle and Adidas establishing a relationship with the club worth around £30 million per year.
But using the world-class facilities is what will excite Howe, who prefers touring Europe to long-haul travel. The ‘Arena’, as it is known, has football fields, tennis and basketball courts, beach volleyball, an athletics track and swimming pools and accommodates more than 2,000 employees.
Arsenal were based on campus last summer and played a friendly match against FC Nurnberg, the nearest professional club.
Newcastle will be based in the state-of-the-art Adidas headquarters in Germany this summer
Eddie Howe’s squad will be on hand for a training camp that marks the arrival of the sportswear giant as the club’s official kit supplier, a deal worth around £30 million a year to the club.
Several teams have been based there in the past, including Arsenal (left) and Germany (right)
PERFORMANCE CHIEF ARRIVES
Newcastle are set to appoint a new performance director AND sporting director, we can exclusively reveal.
Dougie Freedman remains the frontrunner for the sporting director role and progress is expected to be made once the season concludes. That position will have a recruitment focus and the German Johannes Spors has also been spoken to.
However, the club is also looking for a performance director as restructuring continues behind the scenes following the departure of Dan Ashworth.
This follows the model at several Premier League clubs, where a performance director oversees things like science, medicine, psychology and performance analytics.
Newcastle are determined to improve an injury record that has disrupted their season and seen them record the number of days missed by players in the top flight.
Newcastle are set to appoint a new performance director and sporting director as they continue to restructure behind the scenes following Dan Ashworth’s departure from the club.
Crystal Palace’s Dougie Freedman remains the frontrunner for the role of sporting director
TOSIN STILL ON THE TRACK
Newcastle chiefs are untroubled by reports that Manchester United are making a late move to hijack a deal for Tosin Adarabioyo.
The Magpies have made an offer to the Fulham defender, who is a free agent this summer, and the 26-year-old is attracted by the project presented to him at St James’ Park.
Notebook has been told that Man United have not made an offer for Adarabioyo and while there is so much uncertainty at Old Trafford, it remains likely that the player will end up on Tyneside.
Newcastle remain confident they will sign Tosin Adarabioyo despite interest from Man United
SHOW SCOUTS WATCH LEEDS
Keep an eye on developments at Leeds United, with Newcastle scouts attending their matches in recent months.
We understand that the club will have to raise almost £100 million in player sales if they fail to win promotion to the Premier League.
Winger Crysencio Summerville, 22, has been eyed by Newcastle, as well as Chelsea, Aston Villa and Liverpool. He scored 20 times from 47 appearances and was named Championship Player of the Season last month.
Others who could be on Newcastle’s watchlist include goalkeeper Illan Meslier and teenage midfield sensation Archie Gray.
Newcastle scouts have been keeping an eye on Leeds in recent months, with Mail Sport previously reporting how they may have to raise £100m in player sales if they fail to gain promotion
One Leeds star to keep an eye on is Championship Player of the Year Crysencio Summerville
SHOW TEASER
Last week’s question was: FOUR players have taken penalties for Newcastle under Eddie Howe and FOUR other players (not in the previous answer) have taken penalties for Newcastle under Steve Bruce. The answers were: Callum Wilson, Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Chris Wood. And (under Bruce) Joe Willock, Matt Ritchie, Fabian Schar and Joelinton.
This week’s puzzle, and the last of the season, is: Newcastle have had a problem at left back a long time ago. They have loaned out FIVE left-backs since 2018. Just name them.
The answers will be revealed on Saturday morning on our new NUFC dedicated WhatsApp channel. It’s free and available HERE.