Tom is an experienced football journalist at Football FanCast with over five years of experience covering breaking news, opinion features and analysis across English football. His work spans the Premier League, EFL and non-league football, combining news reporting with in-depth features on the biggest stories in the game.  

Throughout his career, Tom has contributed to publications including The Non-League Paper, Crawley Observer, Sussex Express and The Redmen TV, producing news, features and exclusive interviews. He has also covered events including the National League South play-off final, Formula E's London E-Prix and matches involving Crawley Town and Brighton & Hove Albion's Under-21s.
 

At Football FanCast, Tom has interviewed prominent football figures including Ally McCoist, Philippe Senderos and Chris Waddle. His journalism combines a broad understanding of the game with an interest in exploring the issues affecting clubs, players and supporters at every level.

Thursday night's Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Everton was almost a full-circle moment for Newcastle United's recent downfall. In the very competition that they won in the 2024/25 campaign, they crashed out at the last 16 stage in a game they never looked like winning.

It was a subdued, weak display from a squad still struggling to find their identity under Matthias Jaissle, who is beginning to struggle after initially starting well.

A lot of that failire is not down to the German, however. He may prove to be the eventual fall guy, but no one will deny that the recruitment has been disastrous at St James' Park for last 12 months.

Newcastle continue to pay price for recruitment failure

The big issue came in midfield in the summer. One year after Alexander Isak's departure, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali followed suit.

The heart of Newcastle's Carabao Cup-winning side had been ripped out and there was not an instant transplant lined up. Instead, the Magpies seemed to form a makeshift pacemaker with the spare parts that they could fine. The consequences of that are likely to be damning.

Although replacing the duo was always going to be a tough task, Nico Gonzalez, Aladji Bamba and Sean Steur have not even come close to pulling off mission impossible on Tyneside.

It's also a dilemma which has arrived just two years since Newcastle allowed Elliot Anderson to join Nottingham Forest in an attempt to ease pressure placed on them by PSR rules.

Anderson is now one of the most expensive players in Premier League history and one of the best midfielders in England at current now that he has arrived at Manchester City.

The boyhood Geordie was a ready-made replacement for Guimaraes, but now finds himself at Man City as Newcastle continue to live with their biggest regret.

Newcastle eyeing £83m-rated star

The bad news for Newcastle is that there is no going back in time to end their Anderson regret. They have to live with the mistake they made when they sold their next biggest start. The better news is that the transfer window will offer those at St James' yet another chance to make amends.

They failed on that front in the summer, but Jaissle's needs could still be solved in 2027 when Eduardo Pape emerges as a key target. The Though the Magpies have rarely completed wise investement over the last 12 months, the opportunity to complete their shopping in South America is one that they must take.

According to TeamTalk, Newcastle are working on signing Pape from Cruzeiro. The Magpies are joined by Bayern Munich and Arsenal, highlighting just how impressive the teenage star is, to spark a hectic race in 2027.

The deal won't come cheap, though. Pape reportedly has an international release clause worth €100m (£83m), which would make him the most expensive player in Newcastle history.

The 17-year-old is already rising through the ranks in Brazil and is known for his game intelligence, ball distribution and composure on the ball - three traits Newcastle fans may remember from Anderson's time at the club.

After losing a young midfielder destined for great things, finding a replacement in the form of another rising star would be an excellent way to end years of regret.