As Newcastle tries to bolster their squad in January against the backdrop of strict spending limits following their £400 million (€348 million) spree, Eddie Howe has acknowledged that the team does not have many friends.
According to Breakingnews.ie, The Magpies’ chief executive, Darren Eales, stated that they might have to sell before they can further bolster their squad after the club’s most recent financial results, which were released on Thursday and showed a loss after tax of £73.4 million, were made public.
Howe has been connected to a January transfer for Dominic Solanke, a striker for Bournemouth, but the 46-year-old said that deal was out of his current price range.
(It’s) a frustrating story for me because, yes, I signed Dominic Solanke and I think highly of him,” he stated.
“But we have not made an enquiry for him, and we don’t have the ability to sign a player of that level.”
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Due to injuries and Sandro Tonali’s 10-month suspension, Howe’s squad is severely lacking. As a result, Newcastle will start Saturday’s Premier League match against Manchester City with 10 players out and Joelinton, the most recent addition, likely out for at least six weeks.
The Brazilian’s misfortune—he has a tendon problem in his thigh—exacerbates the team’s midfield woes, which had already raised interest in a temporary, though unfulfilled, move for Kalvin Phillips of City, though even that is proving difficult.
“I don’t think many clubs out there are willing to help us right now,” Howe remarked.
“To agree a loan deal, you need the club to agree to that deal, so we’re in that moment where I’m not sure we have many friends in the market.”
Asked if loan signings were a possibility, he added: “We’re not shutting the door on everything, but certainly as I sit here now, no, we’re not going to bring anyone in. But that may change as the window unfolds.”
Given that Newcastle’s Saudi-backed owners have spent heavily to acquire players like Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Bruno Guimaraes, and Alexander Isak since completing their takeover in October 2021, and given that Eales has admitted that players may need to be sold, the club’s current narrative may not garner much sympathy.
“There was this perception when the owners took over that we were the richest club in the world,” Howe stated, reiterating the Magpies’ refusal to sell their best players. In actuality, it doesn’t really matter when discussing FFP.
“That’s irrelevant. We are where we are based on income and we have to improve those revenue streams.
“Selling players is part of every football club’s DNA now. It has to be with Financial Fair Play rules because we have to generate more income and to sign players, we may have to sell players.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean star players – whatever you mean by that term – but certainly selling players will be something this club will do now for the foreseeable future.”
As the final train back to the city departs at approximately 9 p.m. on Saturday, January 27, the club’s FA Cup fourth-round trip to Fulham was scheduled for 7 p.m. Howe, meanwhile, expressed sympathy for the traveling supporters of the team.
He said: “I do have sympathy for them. We’re all at the mercy of the TV companies and when they want to schedule games, and I don’t think enough consideration is given to the supporters and what they have to do to get to and from the games.”
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