It’s been a strange summer for Newcastle United.
While there have been big signings in the shape of Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes, Eddie Howe has admitted to feeling some frustration in the transfer market.
Long-term targets in James Maddison and Moussa Diaby have gone elsewhere, while there is reportedly an impasse in regards to Newcastle’s pursuit of Tino Livramento.
Clearly, signing players isn’t easy while working under FFP restrictions, with PIF having to balance before another big spend.
With players leaving (Allan Saint-Maximin aside) hardly likely to attract major fees in the market, it’s easy to see why there may be some frustration.
Still, Howe remains keen to strengthen.
How many players Eddie Howe wants Newcastle to sign before the end of the window
Indeed, the Daily Mail have claimed Howe is still keen on two signings this summer.
After Tonali and Barnes, Livramento has strongly been linked. While the report does not add any further detail, central defence could be an area to look at.
The likes of Joachim Andersen and Harry Maguire have been touted as targets, with Howe short of convincing options behind Fabian Schar and Sven Botman.
Howe might not get what he wants
We’ve already seen how difficult its been to get deals over the line.
That is not the criticism of the club at all. It cannot be easy when dealing with FFP and high asking prices for potential targets.
It does not, however, provide positive omens. The season is creeping up in the calendar and to suddenly see a shift in terms of how slowly things have been going this summer does seem reasonably unlikely.
Not everything can be done in one summer, after all.
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