It’d be fair to say Newcastle United are lacking a huge amount of squad depth.
With Sean Longstaff missing for the last few games, the lack of options available to Eddie Howe are proving costly. Newcastle were far from their best at Leeds on Saturday and things are getting tight in the race for the top four.
Naturally, Howe was eager to call for perspective after the draw at Elland Road.
Nobody expected this squad to take the club so far and while that will be scant consolation if Newcastle miss out on the top four, it’s worth remembering there is more to come in the transfer market.
Indeed, this summer could be a busy one for PIF.
Newcastle targeting up to six players in summer transfer window
According to The Athletic, the club are ready to move for six players during the summer transfer window.
They claim Howe is eager to strengthen in a number of areas running right through the squad with European football to at least some degree now been all-but secured.
Positions targeted include a new left-back, a right-sided centre-back, two midfielders and two forwards.
The report drills down into potential midfield targets even further, stating that a No.6 and a No.8 are on the agenda.
Exciting times for Newcastle
While it would obviously be nice to have a Champions League spot wrapped up already, the fact Newcastle have almost certainly guaranteed European football in some capacity is quite the achievement.
Unlike after Alan Pardew’s fifth-placed finish in 2011-12, there are seemingly concrete plans to build on it too. This is new territory for a generation of supporters, many of whom would have missed the European runs of the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Newcastle will be back on the continent next season. They will surely be ambitious in the transfer market to prepare for it.
Life is good in black and white.
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