We are only four days in and it is already shaping up to be an incredibly difficult January transfer window for Newcastle United and Eddie Howe.
It is clear that the Magpies need reinforcements during the January transfer window, having seen their season slightly unravel amid an excruciating injury crisis that decimated Eddie Howe‘s squad towards the end of 2023.
Things are looking slightly brighter on the injury front in early 2024, with key Newcastle players due to return soon.
However, there is still a desire to add fresh faces to a team that is failing to hit the incredible heights that they did last season.
Money is the big problem, with profit and sustainability rules hindering the Newcastle owners’ ability to splash the cash, despite having incredibly deep pockets.
That must be frustrating, and the Athletic’s Chris Waugh has provided some details on the situation behind the scenes at St James’ Park, including what Eddie Howe is keen for the club to do.
Eddie Howe pushing for new signings at Newcastle
Speaking on the latest episode of Pod On The Tyne, journalist Chris Waugh admitted that Howe is keen for the club to make new signings, although the loan market is probably the only viable avenue for fresh faces to arrive.
“Financial fair play, or the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules as they are called officially, are an issue for Newcastle,” he said.
“They are very close to the limit on that front and that is going to restrict what they can do this month.
“That does not mean they won’t do anything and Eddie Howe is certainly pushing behind the scenes to try and do something. But it looks increasingly likely that it will be loans, whether they’re straight loans or loans with options, or loans with obligations.”
Incredibly difficult transfer window for Newcastle
It is difficult for Howe, and for the owners. He wants to improve his squad, but the owners are not letting him. But that is not because they do not want to.
Instead, they are being hamstrung by financial fair play and do not want to go over the limit and end up in the same kind of situation as Everton are right now. They are fighting to stay in the Premier League, having been deducted 10 points.
It is good to hear that Howe is pushing for movement behind the scenes, and hopefully he gets his wish. Even if it is just one loan deal, that would give his squad a lift.
Ideally, the club will bring in a couple of new faces. A centre midfielder and an attacker are needed, but filling both positions this month might be too ambitious.
The challenge is which position to prioritise too, as it will not be too long before Howe gets bodies back. The need to fill those roles might lessen if Joe Willock and Harvey Barnes immediately start firing once they are fit again.
It is a very difficult January transfer window for Newcastle, and one that could frustrate everyone involved with the club.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
