As we edge closer to the January transfer window, a common theme of Eddie Howe’s press conferences are questions around our ability to strengthen this winter.
We tried and failed to sign Marc Guehi over the summer after a series of rejected bids and there’s a belief that our squad has gone a little stale, with issues at centre-back and the right-wing in need of addressing.
Considering the £50-60m bids placed for Crystal Palace’s Guehi just a few months ago, you’d think we had money to spend next month. But, based on Howe’s rather telling comments this morning, the situation is clearly not that simple…somehow.
Speaking to the media on Friday morning, Eddie Howe admitted that Newcastle United are in for a “quiet” January transfer window unless we “trade players.”
“I keep saying the same thing about January – I wouldn’t expect us to be in a position to be too active in the market.As we currently stand up, things can change. You know, if we trade players, of course that’s different, but if we don’t trade players, I would expect us to be quiet.”
This paints the picture that player sales will be ESSENTIAL if we plan to bring in a new right-winger – PSV’s Johan Bakayoko was heavily linked earlier this week – or look to reignite our interest in Marc Guehi and comes after reports linked Sean Longstaff with a potential exit.
But, once again, you have to question how this is the case when were offering £60m+ for Guehi just a few months ago and launching deadline day bids in excess of £40m for Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga. It leaves you questioning PSR and the rules in place (that constantly hold us back) if we must still ‘sell to buy’ when so little was spent over the summer.
Make it make sense? What’s changed since the final few days of the summer, where we were clearly in a position to spend and make sizeable bids without the need to sell.
With Callum Wilson facing two months out and Newcastle already light on attacking options, some wonder if we’ll be in the market for a striker in January.
Asked if his two-month injury layoff will impact our winter plans, Howe added: “I don’t think those things affect our ability to trade.
“In previous seasons that would be the case because I think you would react to what the team’s delivering or an injury situation, but I think now with the trading world as it is you’re, you’re much less reactive, it’s what you can do, not what you want to do.