Exclusive: The Magpies have been around the table to discuss transfer targets ahead of next month's window
Newcastle United Head Coach Eddie Howe and Ross Wilson
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe and Ross Wilson
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Newcastle United have held a key recruitment meeting ahead of the transfer window opening next month.
After head coach Eddie Howe made a public warning that United must hit the ground running this summer, he went away for a short break after Sunday's defeat at Fulham, safe in the knowledge that an important gathering of the club's transfer team had already been around the table to discuss new signings.
Chronicle Live understands that sporting director Ross Wilson took the lead in the meeting and key figures such as head of recruitment Steve Nickson, Senior Football Executive Andy Howe and the club's senior scouts were all in place.
The meeting is understood to have taken place on Tyneside last week, just days before the final day defeat to Fulham, with Toon boss Howe delegating the task of whittling down the short-list to former Rangers supremo Wilson.
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Newcastle's talent spotters from across Europe also jetted in to discuss targets as Newcastle finalised their short-list. It is expected that head coach Howe wants a right-back, centre-midfielder, winger and goalkeeper as primary targets, but improving the squad overall is the main aim for the Magpies this summer.
As reported by Chronicle Live on May 17, Newcastle chiefs met in London in the build-up to the West Ham game. But after learning that United will not play in Europe next season last week, Howe is now aware of how much he will have to spend.
Speaking about the window and what is needed this summer, Howe had said over the weekend: "You always start off with an optimistic mindset. That's always how we work.
"We have a lot of positions to fill. And hopefully we can do that. We have a lot of work."
The ex-AFC Bournemouth chief will not be able to lean into any extra funding anticipated from Europe this summer, and the reality is Newcastle have to sell to buy. There were two budget pots discussed at Newcastle, with CEO David Hopkinson saying in March: "We have two directions of planning. Two scenarios with a multitude of strategies that follow either scenario."
Newcastle are interested in Reims goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen and Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara, with Wilson tasked to nail down deals as early as possible. Howe did not get the bulk of his summer signings last year until August, when Malick Thiaw, Nick Woltemade, Jacob Ramsey, Yoane Wissa and Aaron Ramsdale long after the window had opened.
Howe said to Chronicle Live earlier this month: "I think it has to be different. I was sat here this time last year saying the same thing. That we needed to move quickly, we needed to be dynamic.
"You will find that the best players won't hang around for too long, who are available on the market.
"The speed in which the transfer market moves now is very quick. Things are very efficient, and we have to be there as one of those teams."
It now remains to be seen if Howe's concerns have been listened to by the powers that be with the final team sheet of the season, sparking fresh cause for concern in the fanbase.
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