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Newcastle United will be based at adidas’ state-of-the-art headquarters in Germany this summer, Notebook can exclusively reveal.
To mark the arrival of the sportswear giant 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 the UK before flying to Japan on July 28 for a week-long stay including two friendly matches.
The trip to Germany could also include a match and details are currently being finalized. The training ground will feature several commercial activations as Newcastle and adidas embark on a relationship worth around £30m a year to the club.
But the use of world-leading facilities is what will excite Howe, who prefers European trips to long-distance ones. The ‘Arena’, as it is known, features football fields, tennis and basketball courts, beach volleyball, a jogging track and swimming pools and is home to more than 2,000 employees.
Arsenal were based on campus last summer and played a friendly match against FC Nurnberg, the closest professional club.
Newcastle will be based at adidas’ state-of-the-art headquarters in Germany this summer.
Eddie Howe’s team will be there for a training camp that marks the arrival of the sportswear giant as the club’s official kit supplier, a deal worth around £30m a year for the club.
Several teams have been based there in the past, including Arsenal (left) and Germany (right).
THE PERFORMANCE CHIEF IS ABOUT TO ARRIVE
Newcastle are set to appoint a new performance director AND sporting director, we can exclusively reveal.
Dougie Freedman remains the favorite for the sporting director position and progress is expected after the season ends. That position will have a recruitment focus and German Johannes Spors has also been spoken to.
However, the club is also looking to install a performance director as it continues its restructuring behind the scenes following the departure of Dan Ashworth.
This follows the model of several Premier League clubs, where a performance director oversees topics such as science, medicine, psychology and performance analysis.
Newcastle are determined to improve an injury history that has disrupted their season and seen them record the most days missed of any player in the top flight.
Newcastle are set to appoint a new performance director and sporting director as they continue behind-the-scenes restructuring following Dan Ashworth’s departure from the club.
Crystal Palace’s Dougie Freedman remains favorite for sporting director role
COUGH STILL ON THE ROAD
Newcastle bosses are unconcerned by reports that Manchester United have made 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 to the project presented to him at St James’ Park.
Notebook has been told that Man United have not made an offer for Adarabioyo and, although there is so much uncertainty at Old Trafford, it remains likely that the player will end up on Tyneside.
Newcastle remain confident in signing Tosin Adarabioyo despite interest from Man United
THE TOON SCOUTS LOOKED AT LEEDS
Keep an eye on developments at Leeds United as Newcastle scouts have attended their games in recent months.
We understand that the club will need to raise around £100m in player sales if they do not achieve promotion to the Premier League.
Winger Crysencio Summerville, 22, has been scouted by Newcastle, as well as Chelsea, Aston Villa and Liverpool, among others. He has scored 20 goals in 47 appearances and was named Championship Player of the Season last month.
Others who could be on Newcastle’s watch list are goalkeeper Illan Meslier and teenage midfield sensation Archie Gray.
Newcastle scouts have been eyeing Leeds for the past few months, with Mail Sport previously reporting that they could 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.
Cartoon trailer
Last week’s question was: FOUR players have taken penalties for Newcastle under Eddie Howe and FOUR more players (not in the previous answer) have taken penalties for Newcastle under Steve Bruce. The responses were: Callum Wilson, Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Chris Wood. And (under Bruce) Joe Willock, Matt Ritchie, Fabian Schar and Joelinton.
The enigma of this week, and the last of the season, is: Newcastle has had a problem at left back for some time. In fact, they have signed FIVE left-backs on loan since 2018. Name them.
The answers will be revealed on Saturday morning on our new WhatsApp channel dedicated to NUFC. It’s free and available. HERE.
