Newcastle United have so far endured a difficult summer transfer window, although Eddie Howe has put it into context.
Indeed, Newcastle have missed out on multiple transfer targets since the end of last season and have been dealing with the wholly unwelcome Alexander Isak saga.
Isak has asked to leave Newcastle and wants to join Liverpool, although it remains to be seen if the club relent and eventually sell the forward.
Still, there are reasons to be optimistic. Malick Thiaw is set to join Newcastle, who have already signed Anthony Elanga and Aaron Ramsdale.
Clearly, the optics of this summer have been dreadful. Still, Howe was keen to stress that the club remain ambitious and have tried their very best.
Eddie Howe says Newcastle United have been “proactive” this summer
The Newcastle United manager was speaking to reporters and his quotes have been relayed by The Chronicle.
Howe refused to blame the club and is of the belief that Newcastle have largely been unlucky this summer.
“I think the club has been dynamic and proactive,” he said.
“We have tried.
“There’s been a lot reported, some very accurate and some not so.
“But through no fault of anyone working behind the scenes, we haven’t been able to close some deals that at one stage looked very close but just got away from us.
“That can happen to any deal until it’s signed, sealed, and delivered. The pool is very small and everyone is fighting for the same players.”
They were, of course, ready to spend big on all of Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko before they went elsewhere.
What Newcastle United sources are saying about players rejecting them
According to iNews, there are figures inside the club who are keen to stress only four players who they have made moves ended up moving elsewhere.
They are Ekitike, Sesko, Pedro and James Trafford.
While there was interest in the likes of Delap, Bryan Mbeumo, Dean Huijsen and Matheus Cunha, the point is that Newcastle never actually bid for them.
It remains difficult to judge Newcastle’s transfer window. They’ve ended a two-year pursuit of a new centre back and a right winger, while they’ve also strengthened with a goalkeeper capable of using his feet.
They are still positions to bolster and the Isak saga needs sorting out but perhaps it’s not all bad.
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