Eddie Howe confirms what has ‘really disappointed’ him at Newcastle this summer

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Newcastle United have been forced into some difficult decisions this summer.

While Newcastle did eventually raise enough money to meet the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules, hard calls had to be made.

Indeed, with the threat of a ten-point deduction from the Premier League looming, the club simply did not have scope to be sentimental before the deadline on June 30.

Such was their desperation, they even held talks with Liverpool about the prospect of selling Anthony Gordon.

Luckily, that particular move never came to fruition of course but other players had to leave.

Eddie Howe was not thought to have been keen to lose Elliot Anderson, who eventually joined Nottingham Forest.

Yankuba Minteh was reportedly another reluctant sale at St James’ Park, with the highly-rated winger joining Brighton.

Now, the Newcastle manager has opened up on their exits and confirmed his disappointment.

Eddie Howe shares what has really disappointed him at Newcastle this summer

Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle from the club’s pre-season training camp in Germany, Howe said: “We’d have loved to have kept them.

“I think they’re two outstanding players and really disappointed to lose them both, but we were backed into a corner, we were in a very difficult position.”

He added: “Especially Elliot because he’d been with us so long and right through the system. The last thing you want to do is develop players and have to sell them but the rules dictated that.”

Newcastle’s summer has been difficult so far

Strangely, Newcastle have signed three players this summer. It does not, however, feel like they’ve significantly strengthened.

There is hope Howe will be able to develop Lloyd Kelly but John Ruddy has seemingly been signed solely to improve standards in training, rather than ever playing in the first-team.

Whether or not fellow new addition Odysseas Vlachodimos replaces Nick Pope in goal is up for debate, too.

With that in mind, the facts are that Newcastle have lost two talented young players against their will without really strengthening Howe’s side.

That does not mean Newcastle will have a bad season of course and there is still plenty of time in the transfer window to go but the progress has certainly been slow up until now.

Hopefully, things will speed up quickly…