A family of Italian burglars who stole more than £1.2m worth of luxury goods from homes including that of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak have been jailed. Brothers Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela Jovanoic and her son Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the region to raid three houses in April 2024, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Once a week (usually) for an hour during the Premier League season, The Athletic’s Newcastle United subscribers can ask our writers covering the club for views and insight into what’s happening at St James’ Park.

Manchester City's Erling Haaland was the favourite to repeat as Premier League Golden Boot winner, but Mohamed Salah has opened out a convincing lead.

Isak’s wage demands will not be for the faint-hearted. He wants to be paid as much as he could earn elsewhere, which means Newcastle will need to push well above the £200,000-a-week mark. It will need a new wage structure and a ceiling being broken, but when you consider how important he is, the money must be found.

If Newcastle's influential Swede Alexander Isak had been fit, it might have been different - but now their Champions League hopes are in real danger.

For weeks, the Newcastle United head coach has told anyone who would listen that nothing will be decided until the final day, that the skirmish for a Champions League place would go down to the wire.

Liverpool could yet try tempt Newcastle with a firm offer for Alexander Isak - and new comments made by Eddie Howe may genuinely concern Magpies supporters.

Newcastle United are just one win away from securing Champions League football ahead of a potentially transformative summer transfer window.