Newcastle United

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Alistair Magowan, BBC Sport

Newcastle’s interest in signing Reims forward Hugo Ekitike is over after a deal could not be agreed.

It is understood that the demands from the player's agent proved a stumbling block and the club was not prepared to pay over-the-odds for a 20-year old, who has only played one season in Ligue 1 - scoring 10 goals.

The signing of Lille defender Sven Botman should be announced in the next 24 hours. 

Image source, @NUFC

Newcastle United have officially released their third kit for the 2022-23 season.

The green and white design received criticism because of its similarities to the Saudi Arabia national team kit when images of the proposed shirt were shared widely on social media last month.

What do you think of the kit, Magpies fans? Have your say here

Newcastle United are set to complete the £32m signing of Lille defender Sven Botman, but are ready to move on from their pursuit of Reims striker Hugo Ekitike. (Mail), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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To celebrate the Premier League's 30th anniversary, we asked you for your favourite Newcastle kit from this era.

Here are some of your standout shirts:

Mike: The most iconic kit as a Newcastle fan was the 1995-1997 Adidas home and away shirts from the era of the entertainers. Classic grandad collar, simple design and iconic Newcastle Brown Ale sponsorship with the blue star logo and Newcastle city skyline detail. It epitomised the city, the club's history and the passion of the fan. A standout kit.

Peter: 1995-1997. Two dramatic seasons with players like Shearer, Ferdinand, Batty, Ginola, Beardsley, Tino and Pav.

Michael: My favourite Newcastle kit was when we got relegated to the Championship for the second time under Ashley. A black, white and gold strip - the most gorgeous kit I have ever seen. That season, my team (Newcastle United) and the team from the town where I was born (Portsmouth) both won league titles in League Two and the Championship. Best year of my life.

Mark: First is the 1996 with the Newcastle Brown Ale with blue star logo and the grandad collar. Second is the 1993-95 with the Newcastle Blue Star. Still have my shirts. Pure gold!

Jethro: My first kit was the Asics shirt with the McEwans Lager sponsor, but I’d say the best kit was the Adidas Newcastle Brown Ale shirt from 95-97. Absolutely classic. Bring it back!

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Nick Pope says he "does not want to limit" his or Newcastle's ambitions as he links up with new team-mates for the first time.

The England goalkeeper signed a four-year deal at St James' Park last week and believes the club is on an upward trajectory.

"I don't want to settle for anything," he told the Magpies' official website, external. "We want to push ourselves to see what we can achieve.

"We've got high quality players, a high quality manager and a support that's unmatched.

"Why should we limit ourselves to anything?"

The 30-year-old has had a rollercoaster journey to becoming a fixture in the Premier League and credits his learning at lower league sides like Cambridge, Welling and Bury as vital in moulding his ambition.

"It was a great education for me," he said. "I'm proud to have grassroots football at my core and the experiences have stood me in great stead.

"But I don't want to settle for what I have had. I'm limiting myself, my abilities or my ambitions - it's exciting."

Image source, Newcastle United

As the Premier League prepares for its 30th anniversary, we want to know what your favourite Newcastle kit is from this era.

You've seen the shirt for the upcoming season, but tell us your pick from the past three decades and which memory stands out?

Have your say here

Image source, Getty Images

New Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope has pointed to one of the club's legendary managers as a figure who influenced his early years as a fan.

"Sir Bobby Robson, for myself, I was an Ipswich Town fan growing up," Pope told the club's website after his transfer from Burnley was confirmed., external

"I still watch their games. Sir Bobby was a massive part of the history of that club. My old man who took me there always spoke incredibly highly of him and what he did there.

"When he moved to Newcastle we always followed because of him really.

"I've always known Newcastle from the outside as a massive football city and a club that when things are going well or not, the fans and city stick with the team to drag them forward.

"From the outside it's a club everyone would want to be a part of in regards to having that support."

Read more on Pope joining Newcastle

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe on the signing of goalkeeper Nick Pope from Burnley: "Nick is an exceptional Premier League and international level goalkeeper, so I’m very pleased to be adding strong competition to a very important position.

“There has been a lot of interest in him from other clubs this summer, so I’d like to thank our owners and everyone behind the scenes for getting us ahead of the competition.

“I’m delighted he is joining us as we prepare for the exciting challenge ahead.”

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The draw has been made for the group stage of this season's Papa John's Trophy, with teams split into northern and southern groups and 16 Premier League under-21 sides again involved.

In the northern section, Everton have been drawn with Harrogate Town, Hartlepool United and Morecambe, while Leeds face Bolton Wanderers, Crewe Alexandra and Tranmere Rovers.

Leicester will face Bradford City, Burton Albion and Sheffield Wednesday, while Liverpool have been drawn with Accrington Stanley, Rochdale and Salford City.

Barnsley, Doncaster Rovers and Lincoln City make up Newcastle's group, with Manchester City taking on Derby County, Grimsby Town and Mansfield Town.

Manchester United have been drawn with Barrow, Carlisle United and Fleetwood Town, leaving Wolves to face Port Vale, Shrewsbury Town and Stockport County.

Newcastle United face competition from Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Paris St-Germain for Reims' France Under-20 striker Hugo Ekitike. (L'Equipe - in French), external

However, Ekitike is set to fly back from holiday early to complete a £26.5m move to St James' Park. (Chronicle), external

Meanwhile, the Magpies and Arsenal are keen on 26-year-old Spain midfielder Fabian Ruiz, whose contract with Napoli runs out in 2023. (Corriere dello Sport, via Mail), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Newcastle United have been offered the chance to sign Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly, 28, from Manchester United. (Mirror), external

The Magpies have also been told they must pay £50m to sign 22-year-old Bayer Leverkusen and France winger Moussa Diaby. (Sun), external

Newcastle and Leeds United have been linked with Burnley's Nathan Collins, but Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City are expected to make bids for the 21-year-old Republic of Ireland defender this week. (Sun), external

Want more transfer rumours? Read Monday's full gossip column here

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We asked how you feel about Newcastle's schedule for the new season after the fixture list was released.

Here are some of your thoughts:

Elliot: At home against Forest first? The pessimist in me says that has banana skin written all over it. Having said that, this isn’t the Ashley era we’re under anymore. St James’ will be rocking, flags will be out en masse and the Toon Army will continue how they finished last season! Pleased to see that we don’t start against a team in the top four!

Neil: Reasonable start, especially if we get the signings we want. Admittedly facing City and Liverpool in August will be tricky but sometimes it’s better to play the best teams at the start of the season before they get into their stride.

Alex: Games against the top six are pretty spread out. No month is particularly hard, May might be the toughest but hopefully we'll be high-flying by then.

Gavin: Doesn’t really matter when we play teams. Fact of the matter is we win as many home games as possible, get points in the road against teams around and below us, and try to compete against Liverpool and Manchester City home and away!

How do you feel with next season's fixture list? Have your say here

The 2022-23 season has been adjusted to accommodate the 2022 World Cup, which takes place in the middle of the domestic calendar.

It starts a week earlier than normal - 75 days after the final day of the 2021-22 campaign - and finishes a week later than usual on 28 May.

Fifa, world football's governing body, has already stipulated that players must be released on 14 November for the World Cup.

It means the mid-season break will last more than six weeks.

There will be 16 matchdays before Qatar - five in August, three in September, six in October and two in November.

Image source, BBC Sport

• Newcastle United have only won one of their past eight matches on the opening day of the Premier League season.

• However, the Magpies have won their past eight home games against Forest since.