Jamie Carragher explains why Newcastle needed summer reset after Bruno Guimaraes exit

Jamie Carragher believes Newcastle United's previous project had "run its course", insisting the club had little choice but to overhaul the squad following a disappointing campaign.

The former Liverpool defender argued Newcastle's decision to cash in on several high-profile players was the correct long-term strategy as the Magpies begin a new era under Matthias Jaissle.

Newcastle have endured a dramatic summer, with Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Kieran Trippier all leaving St James' Park. Their departures follow Alexander Isak's move to Liverpool last year, marking the end of the core that Eddie Howe built.

Speaking on the Football Ramble podcast, Carragher believes the rebuild became unavoidable.

"The project is finished. Not totally finished, but it ran its course and they couldn't do any more. The most it could do was win a domestic cup and qualify for the Champions League, and they have done that."

Carragher also dismissed suggestions that Howe's departure triggered the player exodus, arguing the club had already reached a natural turning point.

Carragher believes Newcastle's failure to qualify for the Champions League meant keeping elite players was no longer realistic.

He pointed to Liverpool's experience under Rafael Benitez, when stars such as Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano eventually moved on after the club slipped away from Europe's elite.

"If Newcastle don't get in the Champions League, they have Champions League players and those players are going to leave. What you've got to do as a club is get the most money you can for them, and that's what they did."

The Sky Sports pundit added that Newcastle's hierarchy deserve credit for securing significant transfer fees rather than allowing unhappy players to remain.

Newcastle's recruitment has taken a very different direction this summer.

The club have signed Lukas Hornicek, Ewen Jaouen, Bazoumana Toure, Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba, with Hornicek, aged 24, the oldest arrival.

Chief executive David Hopkinson has described the overhaul as the beginning of "Newcastle 2.0", with the club focusing on developing young talent before returning to challenge for European qualification.

Carragher believes that is exactly the model Newcastle should follow.

"They've got to go back to those people that Arsenal, Liverpool or Manchester City don't want, or don't think are quite good enough, and make them better."

Newcastle are expected to continue strengthening Jaissle's squad before the transfer window closes, with experienced additions still being explored alongside the club's youthful recruitment drive. The Magpies will hope the reset lays the foundations for a return to European football in the coming seasons.