Eddie Howe has been brutally honest about Newcastle United’s biggest problem in the summer transfer window, it is not to do with Alexander Isak.
This summer has not gone the way fans would have liked, despite the promise of multiple major new signings with Champions League football on the horizon.
As it stands, Anthony Elanga is the only new Newcastle United player this summer. Eddie Howe’s side have missed out on several players in the transfer window, with James Trafford the most recent player to turn them down.
Trafford opted for Manchester City after being told he was wanted by Pep Guardiola. The Magpies had the opportunity to sign Trafford in May but decided not to take it. Newcastle’s offer for Trafford had been accepted, but they were helpless when Man City came knocking.
Elsewhere, players like Bryan Mbeumo have rejected Newcastle for moves elsewhere. The 25-year-old was recently unveiled as a Manchester United player earlier this week after signing for £71million.
With a successful summer slipping away from them, Howe has shared what the biggest problem has been for his recruitment team.
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Eddie Howe blames high price tags for Newcastle United’s transfer window failings
As well as Trafford and Mbeumo, several other players have opted against joining Newcastle this summer. Joao Pedro said no to Howe in favour of Chelsea, while fellow Chelsea attacker Liam Delap decided against Newcastle after talks.
In the meantime, Newcastle are in discussions with Brentford’s Yoane Wissa over a move, with a package worth around £35million under consideration. With the transfer window putting up many failures so far, Howe has shared his honest verdict on what the problem truly is.
“We have multiple players we are looking at across multiple positions. But it’s a challenge because prices are going up,” Howe told reporters during a press conference in Singapore.
“We need to bring players in — we need to do business. We need the options and the depth (in the squad) as we found out two years ago with Champions League football.
“I hope we can bring in players, and players that make a difference before the window shuts. We will not stop until the window shuts.
“It’s not about numbers, it’s about quality. We have identified the positions, now can we find the quality that make our team better?”
Eddie Howe’s transfer comments are a cry for help to PIF
Newcastle’s failed transfers are a reflection of how desperate they are to add more quality to the side. The Champions League is on the horizon, and Newcastle will not be competitive if new players do not arrive.
There simply must be more activity this summer; signings have to be made, or the club is at risk of collapse in the Premier League. Elanga joining Newcastle was a positive, but fans expected at least one more player to join since then.
Howe’s words about prices going up was not just a passing comment; it could be taken as someone who needs their owners to fork out more money for signings to give Newcastle the best chance of being competitive next season.
Newcastle’s Premier League finish last season was a sheer miracle; a lack of signings and promising players departing should have seen the club fall down the Premier League table, but that was far from the case.
However, Newcastle are now at a bigger risk than ever of falling down the table and losing any progress they had made before.
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