Eddie Howe has spoken of his frustration after admitting that Newcastle ‘have not had the window we wanted’.
The pursuit of Marc Guehi looks set to end in failure with Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish now wanting in excess of £70million for the defender. The England star has been Howe and new sporting director Paul Mitchell’s prime target in recent weeks.
However, it now appears likely that the Magpies will close for business having spent just £10m on back-up forward William Osula. Lloyd Kelly also arrived on a free transfer last month.
Howe met the press on Friday, when he said: ‘It is a challenging period, no doubt about that. We haven’t had the window that we wanted to have, there is no denying that. I'm not going to sit here and say it's been a brilliant transfer window for us. I think everyone will look at me and think I'm not sure he's telling the truth there.
‘But my job is to continue to give my best for the players we have here.’
Eddie Howe has admitted Newcastle ‘have not had the window we wanted’ after failing to sign centre back Marc Guehi
The £70m-rated defender was the top target for the Magpies throughout the entire summer transfer window
Newcastle sporting director Paul Mitchell (front), we are told, said he would deliver the England star
He added: ‘With such short time left, it is looking difficult (to bring players in). This window has been difficult, and it continues to be difficult for us. We’re in a really difficult situation with PSR and available funds, attracting the right players and players who we think can make a difference. It’s such a delicate spot for us, we’ve got to try and get it right and if we don’t, then doing nothing – as frustrating as that is – is probably the best option. There’ll be a feeling we have a good squad, but there’s a feeling there’s a few areas we need to strengthen.’
Asked about how the new dynamic was working behind the scenes with the likes of Mitchell and chief executive Darren Eales, Howe said: ‘We’re working well, in respect of our relationships. I think that is fine, there are no issues there. Of course, turning that into transfers, I’ve said all summer that I’m not involved in negotiations for players, that is separate to me. So, hopefully, that answers the question.
‘You have to understand that in the majority of the other windows, the whole structure of the club has been different, so that is not necessarily a criticism of the structure we have now. There are different personalities and there’s a different way of working now. Yes, it probably has been the most hands off I’ve been, but that’s not necessarily a negative.’
He added: ‘All together we want to find the right solutions, but they have to be the right solutions. The worst thing we could do is bring the wrong players into the football club. That would cause harm for a long time, so it’s always about the right players.
Howe has revealed he considers only the 'righ solutions' after it was previously reported that the Crystal Palace defender was the one he wanted this summer
The 46-year-old manager highlights that the Magpies cannot afford to sign players like the top six teams in the Premier League do
‘It's never about one player, we've tried for numerous players. But there's not a bottomless pit of names. There's probably four or five players that you go through and, once you get to the end of that, you're then going, is this player of sufficient quality?’
It was put to Howe that other clubs beyond the top six have managed to spend significantly this summer, and Howe said: ‘Brighton have historically sold players, they’ve brought in a lot of revenue and income, and we haven’t. So we’re in a difficult situation regarding PSR and that is the major problem for us.
‘We can’t do what other clubs are doing currently and that makes the challenges harder for us and makes it harder for me, but that’s the environment we’re in and we have to try and find a way to still be successful.’
Howe was also asked about the mood in the dressing-room, and gave a revealing response.
‘If I’m being honest, it probably mirrors the narrative created and it’s my job to shape that in the most powerful way that I can,’ he said.
He emphasizes that 'it's not been a clear window' despite signing five players such as Lewis Hall, Odysseas Vlachodimos, William Osula, Lloyd Kelly and John Ruddy
The Magpies are currently looking to agree a £20million deal for Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford
‘What I mean by that is there’s been a number of unsettled players during this window. It’s not been a clear window for us in terms of just bringing players in. It’s been difficult the other way as well. So I think once the window shuts we’ll have clarity. The players will have clarity. “Right, we’re all here now together for the same aim”, and then I’d like to think we will all go together until January in the pursuit of excellence and in the pursuit of success.
‘We have some brilliant characters in the squad and a great changing room, so there is no criticism of the changing room. It’s just it has been unsettling. That’s always difficult when the situation is like that.’