Eddie Howe respected the player’s wishes not to return to Newcastle United.
Newcastle United remain dangerously light on defenders after passing up the opportunity to sign cover during the January transfer window.
Tino Livramento is out until March as he recovers from a hamstring injury and Fabian Schar won’t return until April at the earliest after undergoing ankle surgery last month.
While not a first-team regular, the Magpies are also without Emil Krafth’s versatility. The Sweden international has been sidelined since November with a knee injury and has no definitive return date.
That leaves Kieran Trippier as the only recognised right-back and Lewis Hall as the only recognised left-back, while Sven Botman, Malick Thiaw and Dan Burn are the central defenders.
Another injury in the backline and Eddie Howe’s squad will be in a difficult position amid their relentless fixture schedule.
Why Newcastle United didn’t sign a defender in January
Newcastle explored the winter market for a defender but decided to wait until the summer, with Howe claiming the club didn’t have the financial capabilities to act in the short-term.
“I think the decision is the summer window is a lot easier to recruit,” Howe said. “There's a lot more players available, potentially better value for money, but also the fact that we had a very limited amount of money to use in this window and were the right players available that could help us in the very short term, which we have a need.
“Those options weren't there for us, so we can't sign players that don't exist. We have to work under the conditions that we're in.”
Howe added: “We're working within the financial restrictions that we have during this window. I think I've always said there's a willingness to spend what we can, but, of course, we have to work within the PSR limits and that's what we're trying to do.
“But then you have to make a decision with what room you have, whether you can find the right player that fits.
“As I say, we have a short-term need. We have a need for someone to come in and play now, especially defensively. But for those players, it costs money and there's a level of funds attached to their ability that we can't reach at the moment.”
Newcastle United opt against Matt Targett recall and sanction Jamaal Lascelles exit
One way of bolstering the defence, and it would have come at no cost to Newcastle, was to recall left-back Matt Targett from his loan spell at North East neighbours Middlesbrough.
The Magpies inserted a recall clause, which was initially due to expire in early January before an extension until the transfer deadline was agreed. But after some deliberation, Howe and sporting director Ross Wilson respected Targett’s wishes to remain on Teesside.
The 30-year-old is out of contract at St James’ Park in the summer and wants to earn a permanent deal at Boro, who are on course for promotion to the Premier League.
By numbers, Newcastle have actually weakened their defensive options after allowing Jamaal Lascelles to join Leicester City. Like Targett, Lascelles was also out of contract at the end of the campaign.
Asked about the decision regarding both players, Howe said: “It's not just up for our wants and needs, there's another side to look at it and that's the players' perspective.
“I don’t think it's wise to force things on players that they don't want because you have to have a harmonious dressing room and you have to have a group that's all aligned to the same direction.
“And of course, that's no criticism of the players. Everyone's got different contract lengths and they've got to think about their long-term futures.
“Certainly, both players are highly valued by us, but we've got to make long-term decisions that affect the football club on a daily basis.”
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