Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe (Image: Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe admits that he could be waving goodbye to some of his stars after Sunday's game with Everton.
The Magpies have big decisions to make on squad players such as Sean Longstaff, Callum Wilson, Matt Targett and Martin Dubravka. And there is a major requirement to boost the roster ahead of another European campaign, one way or another.
It is expected that Newcastle could make three or four big signings this summer and that their spending could hit £150m although there could be sales factored into their business too.
Howe, speaking at his Press conference ahead of the Everton game, said: "Im not sure about the thought it's going to be huge change in the summer. There could be.
"I'm in a position where I don't know what's going to happen. You never know going into any summer with transfer activity, ins or outs you never know the numbers.
"You might have a thought of what could happen but without a doubt this could be the last time that the supporters see some of the players.
"I'd be saying the same every season - in life there's no guarantees and change is a natural process. The players that have represented the club and have been in the squad have been fantastic servants and we need to, in my opinion, pay tribute to what they have done."
Howe will meet with the club's top brass in the next few days to discuss spending and recruitment. Sporting director Paul Mitchell came in halfway through the close season last year but has had plenty of time to prepare for this window.
After being forced to sell stars like Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh last summer, this year promises to be different.
Howe said: "Yeah, the difference in mentality, really, for where we were, knowing that we, this time last year, we were in a selling position, we needed to raise revenue.
"And that's a totally different mindset to being in the one that we are now, with a different mindset and different possibilities. It is a big summer for us because every transfer window is big. You want to go, preferably, into the new season with a stronger squad than the one that you entered with. And that's always the challenge."