In a week full of insightful quotes from CEO David Hopkinson and sporting director Ross Wilson, the latter has now offered an update on contracts and potential January additions.
Wilson, who recently stepped into Paul Mitchell’s previous role, has confirmed that the club are actively seeking new deals for Tino Livramento and Sven Botman.
The Scot has revealed that “discussions are ongoing” over extensions for both defenders, discussing the club’s desire to tie the pair down to long-term contracts, but admitting it’s “too early to say” if they’ll sign.
Livramento has received interest from Man City and is due a pay rise to reflect his development, while Botman is approaching the final 18 months of his contract on Tyneside.
Discussing the potential double deal and Sandro Tonali’s secret deal until 2029, Wilson said:
“My first three or four days in the job was when I found that Sandro’s contract situation was significantly better than the one I was expecting. My first days were about analysing contracts – where are we, where are we strong, where are we weak, where have we got issues?
“It’s no secret at all that we would want to extend Tino’s contract and we would want to extend Sven Botman’s contract too. Those discussions are ongoing.
“Some discussions are more difficult than others, but the desire would be to keep those players. Will they agree those contracts? At the moment, I think it’s too early to say.”
Speaking to the media from Shearer’s Bar this week, the former Nottingham Forest chief also discussed where we stand heading into the January transfer window.
While insisting that we won’t be spending vast sums after a £100m+ net spend over the summer, Wilson confirmed that money is there to spend if Eddie Howe feels the need to bolster the squad next month.
Conversations are “ongoing” over our transfer plans, although it seems everything must align with a “bigger squad plan” that will take place next summer:
“It’s fairly obvious to everybody given the level of club spend in the summer that we’re not going to do that again in the winter window as well, for a variety of reasons. But, if we want to spend, we can.
“Of course we will be creative, of course we will be opportunistic as well. But probably the most important thing is that it would have to align with what the summer plan looks like, which is the bigger squad plan.
“All of those conversations are ongoing. We will have the ones about where Eddie sees the need in the squad, if at all.”
So, talks underway to keep Tino and Botman at the club and recruitment talks are stepping up heading into 2026, with money available if the right deals emerge.